Re: [Maine-birds] Nelson's Sparrow, Eliot

Hi Jeff,

 

No, NOT typical, but almost surely a Nelson's Sparrow with an individualistic flair. Don't expect birds of one species in one population to all sound alike, or even for one individual to sing only one boring song type. What you heard is a personal song signature, a bird with a little 'in your face' quirkiness. One function of song in birds, which IS a form of communication, is to say (so to speak) 'among Nelson's Sparrows, I'm ME, I'm a particular individual. Published, experimental work shows in species that have been tested that a territorial male (but Nelson's Sparrows are not territorial) at least can tell the difference between established neighbors and 'strangers' of the same species, by song (aided by context as well in some cases). Nelson's Sparrows are nonterritorial, so their song apparently functions in a sexual way unrelated to space use. Nelson's Sparrows are not as quirky in their lifestyle as are Saltmarsh Sparrows, but almost, just in a different way.

 

All this is in the published journal literature.

 

Jon

 

Jon S Greenlaw

Tampa FL

 

From: Jeff Normandin

Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2012 9:08 AM

To: Maine Birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Nelson's Sparrow, Eliot

 

I have been doing a river bird survey every couple weeks at the Dover-Eliot Bridge on the Salmon Falls River, and when I was there 2 weeks ago I heard a bird that was entirely new to me.  Unfortunately I was unable to identify it.  Today I was back there again and heard the same bird in the same place, and was determined to figure out what it was.  Although I never saw it, I made my way through the Peterson's birdsong CD, listening to all the families I suspected the bird might belong to, I finally found Nelson's Sparrow, which matches the habitat and secretive nature of what I was observing.

My only question is this: the recordings I have listened to sound exactly like what I heard, with one small missing element.  The one I heard made the same quiet "cheeeeeeee" sound from the recordings on Peterson and Allaboutbirds.com, but the bird I have heard mad a small noise at the end, almost like the drippy noise of a cowbird, which I can only describe as "doidle-ink".  Does that sound typical of a Nelson's Sparrow - "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee doidle-ink"?

Thanks

--
Jeff Normandin

Axis GeoGraphics
GIS Mapping and
Custom Cartography

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207