Re: [Maine-birds] Warbler question....

Kayla,

Birding by ear is a marvelous way to move through the world, isn't it?

There are at least six variations of Black-throated Blue songs and at least five variations of Cerulean songs. One of the Black-throated Blue songs is quite similar to one of the Cerulean songs, and their preferred habitat types overlap. Although there is a difference in pitch and rhythm for the similar songs, it's pretty easy to confuse either one for the other, even for someone who primarily birds by ear. For that song-type pair, it's safer to confirm the ID visually.

However, for the White Mountains in late June, you can be close to certain which species you heard. While the preferred habitat for Ceruleans does exist in MA, VT, and southern NH, it does not exist in the White Mountains in NH or ME. You probably heard a Black-throated Blue singing that similar pattern.

Scott Spangenberg
Amherst, NH

On Jun 23, 2013, at 6:13 PM, Kayla Pelletier wrote:

> OK so every single weekend I go hiking in the White Mountains and because I like to hike fast, I like to bird by ear. I thought I was getting to be pretty pro at this but I keep hearing this warbler that confuses me and I need an opinion. This bird sounds like a cross between a black throated blue and a black throated green....aka it sounds like a cerulean warbler. Instead of a laid back zee zee zo zo zeet, its more like a zee zee + rapid bunch of zo's + zeet. Listen to Cornell's recording of a cerulean.,,, It sounds like that. I have heard it many times in the Pemi wilderness this summer and last (this weekend it was on the way up Lafayette via Old Bridle Path but in the past I've heard it in Lincoln woods...if anyone is familiar with the area). I am wondering if a black throated blue or a black throated green might make a cerulean-esque song? Range maps of the cerulean don't seem to include the whites. Any thoughts would be great. I have yet to see it and am doubtful that I will. I only seem to see warblers on their terms, not mine.
>
>

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

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.