It took a few days of patiently waiting it out, searching for the bird making this song. I finally got my binos on it and it was nothing other than a Chestnut-sided Warbler (CSWA) singing an alternate song! They usually sing 'pleased, pleased, pleased to meetcha'. Yeah, that's what I thought too. I was dumbfounded until some further readings reassured me that the CSWA does indeed have an alternate "unaccented ending" song. Little did I know there have been multiple scientific journal articles published on CSWA song.
I of course got a recording of him for you...
CSWA alternate song by Burly Bird
And photos of him...
He has become a daily fixture in the yard and for the last few weeks has been singing from dawn til dusk. I appreciate his company at a point in July when most of the warblers have gone quiet. It doesn't seem that long ago I had over a dozen different members of the Parulidae family in the yard. Now it's just the steady 'witchity witchity' of the Common Yellowthroats; the occasional 'teacher teacher' of the Ovenbirds; and the random squeaky-clown-bicycle-wheels of Black-and-white Warblers. Meanwhile, this CSWA guy just keeps on belting out that alternate song...
I read that some males sing both songs, singing the "pleased to meetcha" early in the breeding cycle to attract ladies, saving the alternate song for later during territory defense against other males. I had to see him with my eyeballs - singing that song to believe it, and apparently other young male CSWA's also have to have a "visual tutor" in order to learn the two song classes. Pretty awesome.
I also read that some males only sing the unaccented ending alternate song and that these males don't have as much luck attracting females. Maybe the local lady CSWA's don't recognize this guy? Poor fella'. He does some crazy moves, conveniently and openly preening on the dead elms in the backyard...
The CSWA is a species of special concern here in Maine and I feel lucky to have had them in my yard all summer. And it was great to get a hands-on lesson in their song repertoire. What a pretty little bird!
Thanks for sharing this Lauren. I especially like the last photo.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thanks for reading, I love that out stretched wing shot too.
DeleteWhat a sweet bird! Nice thorough documenting too! You must be, like, a professional biologist or something!
ReplyDeleteVery cool.
Thanks Laurence, you're always so kind!
DeleteHe IS a pretty little bird. I love to sit outside early in the morning to hear what I can hear! I get lots of passer-byers, some just stay for a day, others stay for a few weeks. Sometimes, like you, their song drives me nuts, until they finally drop down out of the meadow so I can get a good look.
ReplyDeleteBackyard birding can be so rewarding!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Lauren~very interesting about the alternative song. That is a beautiful warbler, lucky you to have this visitor all summer!
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me about a week ago. Got frustrated trying to see the mystery songster one afternoon, then he appeared in plain sight early the next morning. A real aha moment.
ReplyDeleteFreakin awesome! One of these guys showed up in central Oregon recently but I couldn't find it... Your photos are making me want to try again. Nice capture of the song too...
ReplyDeleteThanks! That would def. be an awesome OR bird...
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