Date: 4/15/24 11:57 am From: kfinnan (null) via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: vireos, yes and no
Interesting note from Greg. Purple Finches are surprisingly good mimics. A resident male here regularly incorporates calls from Phoebes, Towhees, Juncos, and Titmice into his song—and fools Merlin in the process.
Kevin Finnan
Goshen
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 15, 2024, at 12:18 PM, Gregory Hanisek via CTBirds <ctbirds...> wrote:
>
> We're at the stage where new species are showing up daily and bird song is
> also exploding - prime conditions for jumping the gun on audio IDs. The
> first vireo expected is Blue-headed Vireo, but at this time of year it's
> always prudent to back up sound IDs with visual confirmation.
>
> I was reminded of this today while walking at Hop Brook Lake in Naugatuck.
> I heard high in trees among the usual Goldfinch cacophony and Titmouse
> variety, something that sounded like occasional vireo song notes. After
> working on this at 2 locations I realized this was the result of Purple
> Finches singing a single intro note, rather than a full song. The situation
> became clear when the distinctive pik, pik-pik call notes were mixed in.
>
> I learned this source of confusion many years ago while fall hawk-watching
> at Lighthouse Point in New Haven. I was hearing what I thought were
> Blue-headed Vireos but the late date gave me pause. The answer was the
> simple and obvious one - get a look at the bird, which proved to be a
> Purple Finch, presumably a young male in female-like plumage.
>
> Greg Hanisek
> CT eBird Reviewer
>
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