Date: 8/10/26 5:36 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] sparrow challenge
Nebraska birders,
According to the Peterson Guide to Western Birds, Chipping Sparrows have a
gray rump and Clay-colored have brown rump. According to Birds of Nebraska
online, Clay-colored Sparrows begin to show up in Nebraska August 16
so it's a little too early for them. I always have trouble identifying
sparrows in the fall. I remember when NOU fall meetings were in Halsey.
We saw so many sparrows that were immature or adults in winter plumage. It
was frustrating but we learned a lot.
Robin Harding
Shelton, NE
On Mon, Aug 10, 2026 at 6:24 PM Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> An immature I assume. Quite small as indicated by the rather large
> sunflower seed in the foreground. From today at Whispering Prairie, my
> place SE of Valentine. Chippy? Are clay-coloreds coming through already?
>
> [image: Inline image]
>
>
>
Date: 8/10/26 4:24 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] sparrow challenge
An immature I assume. Quite small as indicated by the rather large sunflower seed in the foreground. From today at Whispering Prairie, my place SE of Valentine. Chippy? Are clay-coloreds coming through already?
Date: 7/31/26 9:27 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] NOU Fall Meeting Sept 11-13, Kearney NE Registration (finally) open!!
It’s time to make your plans for the NOU Fall Meeting in Kearney, NE!
Fri Sept 11 Sun Sept 13
Nebraskan Student Union-Antelope Room
University of Nebraska at Kearney
start time Friday
4:30-5:30 Check-in/Social Hour
5:30-8:30 Dinner and Friday Program
*Keynote Address by Dr. Letitia Reichert-Professor and co-chair Biology Dept, UNK
*Birds! Hopefully many, some of them rare. Fall migrants (vagrants?) and plenty of county birding will be on the docket.
*Field trips all day Saturday and Sunday AM led by Nebraska’s top birders! Trips *may* include Rainwater Basin, Harlan Co Reservoir, Sherman Lake, Rowe Sanctuary, Crane Trust and many more Tri-city area hotspots.
*Get together with old birding friends, meet new NE birders…maybe even learn a little bit.
*Still only $10! You don't have to be an NOU member to attend. All are welcome, but you have to register. For meals, register by Sept 1!
*Students can apply for the NOU Scholarship to cover the cost of attending the meeting. Contact the NOU President to apply.
Please forward/share, tell your friends and like our upcoming post on the NOU Facebook page. Details will also be shared on the Nebraska Birding Discord. Join our increasingly popular and friendly platform to interact with ~300 birders, statewide and regional rare bird reports, ID Help, bird/nature photos, lists, access and share real-time information on bird sightings, rare bird chases and join others in your area to go birding!
Date: 7/31/26 4:04 pm From: Troyer, Anne via groups.io <anne.troyer...> Subject: [NEBirds] Blue Grass Concert at Rowe Sanctuary
Hi all,
Thought ya’ll should know about a fun event Pickin’ on the Platte coming up August 22nd @7:00 pm at Rowe Sanctuary.
The evening begins with local artist Mary Lanka opening the night with a set to welcome you into the prairie atmosphere before award-winning folk artist John Depew and Andrew Morris take the stage.
Doors open at 6:00 PM — come early to grab food and drinks, claim your perfect prairie spot, and soak in the evening before the music begins at 7:00 PM. Bring your lawn chair, your favorite blanket, and the people you love spending summer nights with.
Anne Troyer
Senior Coordinator, Outreach
308-468-5282
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Iain Nicolson Audubon
Center at Rowe Sanctuary
44450 Elm Island Road
Gibbon, NE 68840
rowe.audubon.org
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Shirley Maas via groups.io
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 11:47 AM
To: <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Dawson and Gosper Counties
Always enjoy your reports. Robin. Shirley and I took Full Moon 🌕 drive and were treated with two Mule Deer and a family of for Harris Hawks. Don Maas Maricopa County Mesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools.
Plato
“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley Maas
The Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Friday, July 31, 2026, 8:04 AM, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...><mailto:<pine2siskin4...>> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
On Thursday, July 30, Jessica Gorecki, Bill Flack and I went birding in Dawson and Gosper Counties. The weather forecast was for cloudy in the morning and hot afternoon so we started early. Our goal was to bird at Johnson Lake but I couldn't resist stopping at a few places along the way.
We birded at the south end of the Overton bridge over the Platte River. There's not much water in the river. The Cliff Swallows are still here but they're done nesting. We heard a Great Crested Flycatcher.
We walked from the paved road to the J-2 Eagle viewing facility south of Lexington. It's not open this time of the year but the birding can be good along the road. We heard another Great Crested Flycatcher and a Spotted Towhee. We flushed a large raptor out of a tree that may have been a Great Horned Owl.
We stopped at the sandpits south of the Lexington I-80 exit. We saw several small white terns. Finally, a few of them came close enough for us to identify them as Least Terns. We also saw a Franklin's Gull and some Bank Swallows. A few Great-tailed Grackles wandered over here from the Walmart. We didn't see any Piping Plovers. We also stopped at the north end of the bridge over the Platte. We got an even better look at a few Least Terns. No Piping Plovers here either but we did see a Killdeer with two small chicks. We also saw a Green Heron up close and out in the open.
Mid-morning, we finally got to Johnson Lake. We walked around the State Recreation Area on the east side. The water level was very high. I heard that they had a big storm a few days ago. When we got to the swimming beach, we saw a Black Tern or a Forster's Tern perched on every buoy around the swimming area. We could see two people in the water with only their heads above the water. They were just a few feet from the terns. Also in the Recreation Area along the hike/bike trail, we heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee and a Red-eyed Vireo both of which were new Gosper County birds for me. We also heard crossbills so we looked at the pine trees. We saw one male Red Crossbill working on the cones. A life bird for Jessica.
We drove across the highway to the Chapel Woods hoping for more Crossbills. We were searching the tops of the pine trees when I spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch. It disappeared before I could describe its location to Jessica and Bill, but then we saw two Red Crossbills in the same tree. One was a female and the other was immature. We also saw about ten birds flying over that sounded like the Ponderosa Pine Type 2.
We stopped at a couple more spots at the lake before the weather just got too hot so we headed for home. Jessica showed us the Mississippi Kite nest in Kearney which is near her home. We saw one adult perched near the nest and two young ones in the nest.
Date: 7/31/26 12:33 pm From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Dawson and Gosper Counties
Always enjoy your reports. Robin.Shirley and I took Full Moon 🌕 drive and were treated with two Mule Deer and a family of for Harris Hawks.Don MaasMaricopa CountyMesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Friday, July 31, 2026, 8:04 AM, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
On Thursday, July 30, Jessica Gorecki, Bill Flack and I went birding in Dawson and Gosper Counties. The weather forecast was for cloudy in the morning and hot afternoon so we started early. Our goal was to bird at Johnson Lake but I couldn't resist stopping at a few places along the way.
We birded at the south end of the Overton bridge over the Platte River. There's not much water in the river. The Cliff Swallows are still here but they're done nesting. We heard a Great Crested Flycatcher.
We walked from the paved road to the J-2 Eagle viewing facility south of Lexington. It's not open this time of the year but the birding can be good along the road. We heard another Great Crested Flycatcher and a Spotted Towhee. We flushed a large raptor out of a tree that may have been a Great Horned Owl.
We stopped at the sandpits south of the Lexington I-80 exit. We saw several small white terns. Finally, a few of them came close enough for us to identify them as Least Terns. We also saw a Franklin's Gull and some Bank Swallows. A few Great-tailed Grackles wandered over here from the Walmart. We didn't see any Piping Plovers. We also stopped at the north end of the bridge over the Platte. We got an even better look at a few Least Terns. No Piping Plovers here either but we did see a Killdeer with two small chicks. We also saw a Green Heron up close and out in the open.
Mid-morning, we finally got to Johnson Lake. We walked around the State Recreation Area on the east side. The water level was very high. I heard that they had a big storm a few days ago. When we got to the swimming beach, we saw a Black Tern or a Forster's Tern perched on every buoy around the swimming area. We could see two people in the water with only their heads above the water. They were just a few feet from the terns. Also in the Recreation Area along the hike/bike trail, we heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee and a Red-eyed Vireo both of which were new Gosper County birds for me. We also heard crossbills so we looked at the pine trees. We saw one male Red Crossbill working on the cones. A life bird for Jessica.
We drove across the highway to the Chapel Woods hoping for more Crossbills. We were searching the tops of the pine trees when I spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch. It disappeared before I could describe its location to Jessica and Bill, but then we saw two Red Crossbills in the same tree. One was a female and the other was immature. We also saw about ten birds flying over that sounded like the Ponderosa Pine Type 2.
We stopped at a couple more spots at the lake before the weather just got too hot so we headed for home. Jessica showed us the Mississippi Kite nest in Kearney which is near her home. We saw one adult perched near the nest and two young ones in the nest.
Date: 7/31/26 8:04 am From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Dawson and Gosper Counties
Nebraska birders,
On Thursday, July 30, Jessica Gorecki, Bill Flack and I went birding in Dawson and Gosper Counties. The weather forecast was for cloudy in the morning and hot afternoon so we started early. Our goal was to bird at Johnson Lake but I couldn't resist stopping at a few places along the way.
We birded at the south end of the Overton bridge over the Platte River. There's not much water in the river. The Cliff Swallows are still here but they're done nesting. We heard a Great Crested Flycatcher.
We walked from the paved road to the J-2 Eagle viewing facility south of Lexington. It's not open this time of the year but the birding can be good along the road. We heard another Great Crested Flycatcher and a Spotted Towhee. We flushed a large raptor out of a tree that may have been a Great Horned Owl.
We stopped at the sandpits south of the Lexington I-80 exit. We saw several small white terns. Finally, a few of them came close enough for us to identify them as Least Terns. We also saw a Franklin's Gull and some Bank Swallows. A few Great-tailed Grackles wandered over here from the Walmart. We didn't see any Piping Plovers. We also stopped at the north end of the bridge over the Platte. We got an even better look at a few Least Terns. No Piping Plovers here either but we did see a Killdeer with two small chicks. We also saw a Green Heron up close and out in the open.
Mid-morning, we finally got to Johnson Lake. We walked around the State Recreation Area on the east side. The water level was very high. I heard that they had a big storm a few days ago. When we got to the swimming beach, we saw a Black Tern or a Forster's Tern perched on every buoy around the swimming area. We could see two people in the water with only their heads above the water. They were just a few feet from the terns. Also in the Recreation Area along the hike/bike trail, we heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee and a Red-eyed Vireo both of which were new Gosper County birds for me. We also heard crossbills so we looked at the pine trees. We saw one male Red Crossbill working on the cones. A life bird for Jessica.
We drove across the highway to the Chapel Woods hoping for more Crossbills. We were searching the tops of the pine trees when I spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch. It disappeared before I could describe its location to Jessica and Bill, but then we saw two Red Crossbills in the same tree. One was a female and the other was immature. We also saw about ten birds flying over that sounded like the Ponderosa Pine Type 2.
We stopped at a couple more spots at the lake before the weather just got too hot so we headed for home. Jessica showed us the Mississippi Kite nest in Kearney which is near her home. We saw one adult perched near the nest and two young ones in the nest.
Date: 7/26/26 9:54 am From: Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
That makes sense Joe. I wasn't sure if July was too late. For at least a couple of years we did a road in far SE Nebraska which had both species but I see it was late June to early mid July. Good to know. On another note, I was reading online that CWWI's are outcompeting EWWI's, in part because they are larger, so much so that they apparently can eat whole small passerines in air if need be. (source was Birds of the World) Eeks!
Thanks for the input!
Ruthie On Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 10:15:01 AM CDT, Gubanyi,Joe via groups.io <joe.gubanyi...> wrote:
Ruthie,Thanks for sharing your nightjar findings along River Road. I think your numbers were low because of the time of year. The Nightjar Survey Network (https://www.nightjars.org/) survey windows for Nebraska are 23 May - 8 June and 21 June - 7 July based on moon cycles. July 25 is well past those windows although it fits the moon cycle. I suspect the nesting seasons for chuck-wills-widows and whip-poor-wills are done and so although birds are probably around, they are less inclined to give their territorial calls. Thanks for sharing your sightings. River Road is a special place for me. I discovered the nightjars there years ago working on the Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. I was driving the road listening for owls and found nightjars instead.Joe
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...>
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2026 7:29 AM
To: NEBirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
| | External Email |
Although stinking muggy hot, Mike and I journeyed down to Fairbury after dinner last night to check out River Road for Chuck-wills-widows and possible Whip-poor-wills. We'd heard and sometimes seen them in prior years, the last time being late May of 2023. A swirling helter-skelter flock of about six Common Nighthawks was seen in Janzen on the way there, and another CONI as we started our journey up River Road, about 8:45 last evening.
The route we've done in the past is up River Road to 565 Avenue, going up 565 about a mile or so at the most, then when it's dusky enough, we start listening. We'll stop every quarter third of a mile or so, back down River Road, and then turn up 714 Road, listening til we're past the woods. In prior years we've heard mostly CWWI's on nearly every stop, and in 2023 at one stop was a EWPW.
But this time we only heard two or three chucks right at the start, on 565 Road, one quite loud to our northeast, and the other faintly back to the southeast. And heard another faintly calling to our east. but after that, from about 9:15 to 10:15 pm, nothing but a single Barred Owl. And nothing up 714 Road.
I don't know what to make of it, but thought I'd share our findings or lack thereof!
Oh yeah and the cicadas. We heard them too...incessantly. There must be more than one kind down there, maybe I should start learning cicada calls. :)
We stopped briefly at the park in case the Fish Crows might be around, but just Turkey Vultures coming in to roost.
Ruthie Stearns and Mike MattsonLlincoln, NE
Date: 7/26/26 9:47 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
Thanks for sharing Ruth. This time of the year is not prime time to bird but for us addicted one we bird anyway. Here in AZ I’m chasing Lesser Nighthawks.Don MaasMesa,AZMaricopa Countt
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Sunday, July 26, 2026, 8:15 AM, Gubanyi,Joe via groups.io <Joe.Gubanyi...> wrote:
#yiv1798310329 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Ruthie,Thanks for sharing your nightjar findings along River Road. I think your numbers were low because of the time of year. The Nightjar Survey Network (https://www.nightjars.org/) survey windows for Nebraska are 23 May - 8 June and 21 June - 7 July based on moon cycles. July 25 is well past those windows although it fits the moon cycle. I suspect the nesting seasons for chuck-wills-widows and whip-poor-wills are done and so although birds are probably around, they are less inclined to give their territorial calls. Thanks for sharing your sightings. River Road is a special place for me. I discovered the nightjars there years ago working on the Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. I was driving the road listening for owls and found nightjars instead.Joe
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...>
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2026 7:29 AM
To: NEBirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
| | External Email |
Although stinking muggy hot, Mike and I journeyed down to Fairbury after dinner last night to check out River Road for Chuck-wills-widows and possible Whip-poor-wills. We'd heard and sometimes seen them in prior years, the last time being late May of 2023. A swirling helter-skelter flock of about six Common Nighthawks was seen in Janzen on the way there, and another CONI as we started our journey up River Road, about 8:45 last evening.
The route we've done in the past is up River Road to 565 Avenue, going up 565 about a mile or so at the most, then when it's dusky enough, we start listening. We'll stop every quarter third of a mile or so, back down River Road, and then turn up 714 Road, listening til we're past the woods. In prior years we've heard mostly CWWI's on nearly every stop, and in 2023 at one stop was a EWPW.
But this time we only heard two or three chucks right at the start, on 565 Road, one quite loud to our northeast, and the other faintly back to the southeast. And heard another faintly calling to our east. but after that, from about 9:15 to 10:15 pm, nothing but a single Barred Owl. And nothing up 714 Road.
I don't know what to make of it, but thought I'd share our findings or lack thereof!
Oh yeah and the cicadas. We heard them too...incessantly. There must be more than one kind down there, maybe I should start learning cicada calls. :)
We stopped briefly at the park in case the Fish Crows might be around, but just Turkey Vultures coming in to roost.
Ruthie Stearns and Mike MattsonLlincoln, NE
Date: 7/26/26 8:15 am From: Gubanyi,Joe via groups.io <Joe.Gubanyi...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
Ruthie,
Thanks for sharing your nightjar findings along River Road. I think your numbers were low because of the time of year. The Nightjar Survey Network (https://www.nightjars.org/) survey windows for Nebraska are 23 May - 8 June and 21 June - 7 July based on moon cycles. July 25 is well past those windows although it fits the moon cycle. I suspect the nesting seasons for chuck-wills-widows and whip-poor-wills are done and so although birds are probably around, they are less inclined to give their territorial calls. Thanks for sharing your sightings. River Road is a special place for me. I discovered the nightjars there years ago working on the Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. I was driving the road listening for owls and found nightjars instead.
Joe
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...>
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2026 7:29 AM
To: NEBirds <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
External Email
Although stinking muggy hot, Mike and I journeyed down to Fairbury after dinner last night to check out River Road for Chuck-wills-widows and possible Whip-poor-wills. We'd heard and sometimes seen them in prior years, the last time being late May of 2023. A swirling helter-skelter flock of about six Common Nighthawks was seen in Janzen on the way there, and another CONI as we started our journey up River Road, about 8:45 last evening.
The route we've done in the past is up River Road to 565 Avenue, going up 565 about a mile or so at the most, then when it's dusky enough, we start listening. We'll stop every quarter third of a mile or so, back down River Road, and then turn up 714 Road, listening til we're past the woods. In prior years we've heard mostly CWWI's on nearly every stop, and in 2023 at one stop was a EWPW.
But this time we only heard two or three chucks right at the start, on 565 Road, one quite loud to our northeast, and the other faintly back to the southeast. And heard another faintly calling to our east. but after that, from about 9:15 to 10:15 pm, nothing but a single Barred Owl. And nothing up 714 Road.
I don't know what to make of it, but thought I'd share our findings or lack thereof!
Oh yeah and the cicadas. We heard them too...incessantly. There must be more than one kind down there, maybe I should start learning cicada calls. :)
We stopped briefly at the park in case the Fish Crows might be around, but just Turkey Vultures coming in to roost.
Date: 7/26/26 5:29 am From: Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...> Subject: [NEBirds] Jefferson County nightjars
Although stinking muggy hot, Mike and I journeyed down to Fairbury after dinner last night to check out River Road for Chuck-wills-widows and possible Whip-poor-wills. We'd heard and sometimes seen them in prior years, the last time being late May of 2023. A swirling helter-skelter flock of about six Common Nighthawks was seen in Janzen on the way there, and another CONI as we started our journey up River Road, about 8:45 last evening.
The route we've done in the past is up River Road to 565 Avenue, going up 565 about a mile or so at the most, then when it's dusky enough, we start listening. We'll stop every quarter third of a mile or so, back down River Road, and then turn up 714 Road, listening til we're past the woods. In prior years we've heard mostly CWWI's on nearly every stop, and in 2023 at one stop was a EWPW.
But this time we only heard two or three chucks right at the start, on 565 Road, one quite loud to our northeast, and the other faintly back to the southeast. And heard another faintly calling to our east. but after that, from about 9:15 to 10:15 pm, nothing but a single Barred Owl. And nothing up 714 Road.
I don't know what to make of it, but thought I'd share our findings or lack thereof!
Oh yeah and the cicadas. We heard them too...incessantly. There must be more than one kind down there, maybe I should start learning cicada calls. :)
We stopped briefly at the park in case the Fish Crows might be around, but just Turkey Vultures coming in to roost.
Ruthie Stearns and Mike MattsonLlincoln, NE
I love this string discussing Merlin's great attributes and also its downfalls. The discussion on mimicry of American Goldfinches was very enlightening. I had no idea they did that! As with Merlin, I am always careful to be sure I am not hearing a Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, or even European Starling mimicking other species' calls or songs. Though I dislike seeing them in the US where they don't belong and are problematic, European Starlings are, in my estimation, underappreciated for their mimicry. I most often seem to hear them imitating Killdeer but also have heard them admirably imitate more complex songs like Common Nighthawks and Western Meadowlarks. As for Merlin, I too, have seen instances when it has misidentified a song, call, or even a mammal! In SD Black Hills one fall, I was hearing an elk bugling, and Merlin identified it as a Common Loon! I guess I can see some similarity but would love to see those spectographs side by side! I have several times seen Merlin identify singing Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as Black-headed Grosbeaks, especially if I am in an area where RBGR are less common and BHGR are common. I have noticed that sometimes when I pish, Merlin will identify a Bewick's Wren, and that several times, it has identified young Robin calls as Cedar Waxwings, which can sound somewhat similar. Another thing I have noticed is that sometimes the louder songs are not "heard" by eBird, but it ALWAYS seems to pick up on Cedar Waxwings, though their song is faint and wispy. On my last trip through Montana, Merlin several times showed Blue Grosbeak, though I am not sure what song/sound was signaling that...so, user beware, but what a powerful tool Merlin can be when used correctly! I find that turning it on while I bird when there is a lot of activity helps me keep track of the species so I can just listen and look...then, when I enter them into the eBird app, if there is one I did not see or hear, I can pay attention and see if I missed it or if it was likely a misidentification. I never just trust Merlin without verifying. Thanks for the great discussion!
Diane T in Laramie, WY
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 02:48:59 PM MDT, Mary Clausen via groups.io <mkclausen...> wrote:
This would be very good to add to the NE Discord app. However, it is too long and I cannot add it.
Mary Clausen La Vista, NE
On Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:11 AM Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom...> wrote:
Hi , I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin experiences this summer. I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very interesting. Kathy DeLaraMicthell, NE
----------Forwarded Message----------
From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...>
Reply-To: <olsonr088...>
To: <killdeer54...>
Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...>
Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT
Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54...> wrote:
The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to underscore this reminder. In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer, which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion, always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it, so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and their singing) is at its peak. There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual, and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress. When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls, Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in the yard. For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them right on my phone with Merlin listening. This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern Flicker because the cadence was correct. I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a corresponding graph in Merlin's database. Cheryl Vellenga
Sisseton, SD
This would be very good to add to the NE Discord app. However, it is too
long and I cannot add it.
Mary Clausen
La Vista, NE
On Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:11 AM Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom=
<charter.net...> wrote:
> Hi ,
> I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin
> experiences this summer.
> I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very
> interesting.
>
> Kathy DeLara
> Micthell, NE
>
> ----------Forwarded Message----------
>
> From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...>
> Reply-To: <olsonr088...>
> To: <killdeer54...>
> Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...>
> Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT
> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds
> Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
>> The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or
>> our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more
>> challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period
>> of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to
>> underscore this reminder.
>>
>> In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly
>> rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if
>> there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer,
>> which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to
>> keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the
>> ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion,
>> always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it,
>> so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught
>> an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into
>> typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on
>> the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite
>> birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and
>> clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus
>> the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and
>> their singing) is at its peak.
>>
>> There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual,
>> and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the
>> transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress.
>> When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls,
>> Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done
>> this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in
>> the yard.
>>
>> For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I
>> couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing
>> revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted
>> Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the
>> parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app
>> lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls
>> (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them
>> right on my phone with Merlin listening.
>>
>> This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern
>> Flicker because the cadence was correct.
>>
>> I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain
>> birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings
>> or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses
>> spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if
>> made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a
>> corresponding graph in Merlin's database.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Cheryl VellengaSisseton, SD*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Thank you Kathy for sharing. That was very informative.
Mary Clausen
La Vista, NE
On Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:11 AM Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom=
<charter.net...> wrote:
> Hi ,
> I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin
> experiences this summer.
> I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very
> interesting.
>
> Kathy DeLara
> Micthell, NE
>
> ----------Forwarded Message----------
>
> From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...>
> Reply-To: <olsonr088...>
> To: <killdeer54...>
> Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...>
> Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT
> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds
> Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
>> The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or
>> our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more
>> challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period
>> of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to
>> underscore this reminder.
>>
>> In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly
>> rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if
>> there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer,
>> which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to
>> keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the
>> ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion,
>> always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it,
>> so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught
>> an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into
>> typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on
>> the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite
>> birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and
>> clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus
>> the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and
>> their singing) is at its peak.
>>
>> There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual,
>> and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the
>> transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress.
>> When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls,
>> Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done
>> this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in
>> the yard.
>>
>> For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I
>> couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing
>> revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted
>> Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the
>> parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app
>> lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls
>> (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them
>> right on my phone with Merlin listening.
>>
>> This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern
>> Flicker because the cadence was correct.
>>
>> I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain
>> birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings
>> or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses
>> spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if
>> made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a
>> corresponding graph in Merlin's database.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Cheryl VellengaSisseton, SD*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
I expected thisHere in Mesa, AZ Merlin consistly ID America Robin but I never seen them.I have set up a procalal. before i record what Merlin tells me what it’s hearing..Sometimes we trust technology to much.Don MaasMaricopa County, AZOklahoma County, OKDouglas County, NE
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 8:50 AM, Rick Wright via groups.io <birdaz...> wrote:
Our yard in Tucson hosted a particularly talented lesser goldfinch, whose repertoire within a single song included ladder-backed woodpecker rattles, kestrel chants, and curve-billed thrasher whistles. Going to have to listen more closely now to our American goldfinches here in New Jersey, where song and nest-building are nearing a frenzy.
Rick Wright, Birds and Art tours with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
Books and book chapters
AMERICA 250 🇺🇸 We almost made it.
On Tue, Jul 21, 2026 at 11:11 AM Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom...> wrote:
Hi , I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin experiences this summer. I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very interesting. Kathy DeLaraMicthell, NE
----------Forwarded Message----------
From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...>
Reply-To: <olsonr088...>
To: <killdeer54...>
Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...>
Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT
Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54...> wrote:
The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to underscore this reminder. In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer, which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion, always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it, so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and their singing) is at its peak. There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual, and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress. When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls, Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in the yard. For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them right on my phone with Merlin listening. This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern Flicker because the cadence was correct. I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a corresponding graph in Merlin's database. Cheryl Vellenga
Sisseton, SD
Date: 7/21/26 8:50 am From: Rick Wright via groups.io <birdaz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds
Our yard in Tucson hosted a particularly talented lesser goldfinch, whose
repertoire within a single song included ladder-backed woodpecker rattles,
kestrel chants, and curve-billed thrasher whistles. Going to have to listen
more closely now to our American goldfinches here in New Jersey, where song
and nest-building are nearing a frenzy.
On Tue, Jul 21, 2026 at 11:11 AM Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom=
<charter.net...> wrote:
> Hi ,
> I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin
> experiences this summer.
> I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very
> interesting.
>
> Kathy DeLara
> Micthell, NE
>
> ----------Forwarded Message----------
>
> From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...>
> Reply-To: <olsonr088...>
> To: <killdeer54...>
> Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...>
> Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT
> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds
> Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
>> The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or
>> our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more
>> challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period
>> of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to
>> underscore this reminder.
>>
>> In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly
>> rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if
>> there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer,
>> which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to
>> keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the
>> ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion,
>> always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it,
>> so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught
>> an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into
>> typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on
>> the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite
>> birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and
>> clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus
>> the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and
>> their singing) is at its peak.
>>
>> There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual,
>> and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the
>> transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress.
>> When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls,
>> Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done
>> this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in
>> the yard.
>>
>> For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I
>> couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing
>> revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted
>> Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the
>> parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app
>> lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls
>> (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them
>> right on my phone with Merlin listening.
>>
>> This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern
>> Flicker because the cadence was correct.
>>
>> I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain
>> birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings
>> or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses
>> spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if
>> made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a
>> corresponding graph in Merlin's database.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Cheryl VellengaSisseton, SD*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Date: 7/21/26 8:11 am From: Kathy DeLara via groups.io <renosmom...> Subject: [NEBirds] FW: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds
Hi , I thought you all might be interested in Cheryl's post about her Merlin experiences this summer. I had no idea that goldfinches would mimic other birds. I find that very interesting. Kathy DeLaraMicthell, NE ----------Forwarded Message----------
From: "Ricky Olson via groups.io" <olsonr088...> Reply-To: <olsonr088...> To: <killdeer54...> Cc: "SDOU Listserv (groups.io)" <sd-birds...> Sent: July 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM MDT Subject: Re: [sd-birds] TLDR: Am. Goldfinches mimic Ovenbirds Thanks for sharing the interesting information. On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 3:52 PM Cheryl Vellenga via groups.io <killdeer54...> wrote:
The admonition to "trust but verify" when using either the Merlin app or our own ear-birding skills is as important as ever and even more challenging when a myriad of new bird sounds bombard us during this period of the breeding season. I'll share a few of my own recent experiences to underscore this reminder. In the past couple of weeks I've been hearing clear, emphatic, perfectly rendered ovenbird songs in my yard. Initially, I was confused because if there were breeders in the yard I would've been hearing them all summer, which I hadn't this year since spring migration. That alone was enough to keep me from reporting it until I could verify the observation. In the ensuing days, amidst the cacophony, I would hear the song on occasion, always out of nowhere, sung once (TEACHer repeated 5-7x), and that was it, so there was no chance of getting a recording. Yesterday, I finally caught an American Goldfinch belting out the song and immediately going into typical Goldfinch song. A Google search on the phenomenon schooled me on the talented mimicry of American Goldfinches and that one of their favorite birds to mimic is the Ovenbird because of the song's simplicity and clarity. The last 2 weeks of July are when the breeding season (and thus the singing) of Ovenbirds is ending but the Goldfinch breeding season (and their singing) is at its peak. There've been several House Wren pairs nesting around the yard as usual, and one couple nested in a large wiring conduit elbow that goes to the transformer near the deck, making it easy to watch the family's progress. When the nestlings began vocalizing their raspy, ardent begging calls, Merlin always, and I mean always, called them Marsh Wrens. It had done this off and on throughout the summer but I ignored the ID when it was in the yard. For the past several days, I've been hearing and recording calls that I couldn't place and Merlin absolutely will not ID. Days of sleuthing revealed finally that the calls are coming from the many Rose-breasted Grosbeak fledglings that were being fed in the surrounding trees by the parents, but are now coming to the feeders themselves. The Sibley app lists the calls as "teeyoo calls (immature)" and "turlee calls (immature)". Merlin does not recognize these calls even when I play them right on my phone with Merlin listening. This morning, Merlin ID'd an American Robin in the yard as a Northern Flicker because the cadence was correct. I love using Merlin as an aid, especially in alerting me that certain birds may be nearby. I can listen for them myself to verify its findings or I can look for the birds if need be. Knowing that Merlin uses spectrograms to ID bird sounds reminds us that a matching spectrogram, if made by a skilled mimic (or even baby House Wrens), will be matched to a corresponding graph in Merlin's database. Cheryl Vellenga Sisseton, SD
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