"Barking" Song Sparrows [was: Re: Geese are moving!]
Phil Davis (pdavis@ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 05 Mar 1999 22:10:46 -0500
A comment to add to this thread ...
I independently came to the conclusion, years ago, that Song Sparrows
"bark". I don't recall reading or hearing of this mnemonic from any other
birders ...
Phil
At 08:20 PM 03/05/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>Bonnie,
>
>Interesting. I would be curious to know the text from where this "barking"
>description derives. The best description I have read is in Rising's "The
>Sparrows of the US and Canada" which describes the loud distinctive call note
>of Songs' as ".. a distinctive tchenk, tchip, or chimp, and often is a useful
>aid to identification." (p.191 in the 1996 edition). Most of us over here in
>the "hinter lands of Ol' Virginny" tend to agree with Rising, and I use the
>"chimp" mnemonic during walks because it is easy for beginners to remember.
>And I agree, the soft spoken "tseep" call note is a tough one to ID,
>especially when nearby Swamps' are doing their "tsup" call (which is a bit
>louder and having more emphasis on the ending portion whereas the Song is
>softer, almost trailing at the end...oh, and Rising doesn't describe this
>Swamp call!).
>
>Kurt
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Phil Davis
home: PDavis@ix.netcom.com Davidsonville, Maryland USA
work: PDavis@OAO.com Greenbelt, Maryland USA
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