On 4/14/2013 9:08 PM, Timothy Houghton wrote:
>
> What we did find was a yellow-lored Yelow-Throated Warbler.
> When it was high up in a pine tree, it sang its basic song loud and
> clear. But when it came close to us, affording us some great views and
> photos, it sang its full song clearly and richly but at about 1/10
> volume. At first we thought that a second YTW was singing from a
> distance; then we realized that this brilliant singer was simply
> singing quietly, as though with a purpose in mind. The whispered songs
> weren't half-assed, spindly, or enervated in the usual sense that we
> might ascribe those terms to tired birds or some fall warblers. Simply
> beautiful and quiet songs. Then it left us for the higher realms and
> resumed singing with gusto. I don't recall having something quite like
> this happen to me before. Very cool.
>
>
>
Hi Tim,
Singing softly is actually thought to be a precursor to aggression. See
this paper regarding quiet singing in Black-throated Blue Warblers for
instance:
http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/podos/Pubs/HofHazlett2010AnimBehav.pdf
So you were probably lucky to escape your encounter unscathed! ;-)
Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville
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