ML61225941

Observation details

Singing and discussed by others who have visited recently. Bob Dunlap had taken audio of both songs being sang by the bird, is what I found out from others. I have audio of a Spotted call it made. Here are some notes from Bob Dunlap sent to me from a friend. This is what bob said in re the Towhee: This is undoubtedly the same bird that myself and others saw there this past weekend. The bird looks more like a Spotted although there is a little more white near the primary patch and not as much white in the scapulars, indicating a hybrid. I've got recordings of the bird giving vocalizations of both species. Interestingly, both a female Eastern and male Spotted were at this same location at least as recently as 2014, and the male frequently gave an odd series of Dickcissel-like notes. I recorded the hybrid bird giving this same vocalization this past Sunday; thus it seems the hybrid offspring has learned its father's odd call.