Back in 2017, I authored a Dawn Chorus that tested our skills at identifying birds by song. People enjoyed it, thought it was fun, and reported with evident delight at how many birds they identified correctly — and lamented the ones they missed.
I thought it would be fun to give it another try with some different birds and see how everyone does. We have a fair amount of turnover in the Dawn Chorus audience and many of you may not have been here in the spring of 2017 when that last version was published, so this quiz will be new to you.
I’ll post a link to the song or call and offer a hint or two to help out. Each song or call will be numbered and at the end of the diary, I’ll post the results, so DON’T LOOK AHEAD. I’ll include a buffer ban of non-bird photos so don’t scroll further down until you’re ready to see if you were right or wrong — or completely stumped.
None of the bird songs I’m including are rare or exotic birds. I’m including birds with ranges widely distributed across the U.S. and from a wide variety of habitats. Hopefully, you live in or near a habitat that includes many birds.
Ready to give it a try?
1. Starting off easy, this sound is from a male duck that’s common in parks and ponds and streams all over America: www.naturesongs.com/…
2. Here’s another pretty easy one, in this case, sixteen in a gaggle flying overhead: www.naturesongs.com/…
3. This dove got its name from this sound: www.naturesongs.com/…
4. What type of owls are these two talking to each other? www.naturesongs.com/…
5. Walk along any city sidewalk or gas station parking lot or just about anywhere, and you’ll hear this sparrow: www.naturesongs.com/… And when a bunch of friends join him in song, you’ll hear this: www.naturesongs.com/…
6. Alone or in huge flocks, there’s no mistaking these big black birds: www.naturesongs.com/…
How do you think you’re doing so far? If you’re feeling frustrated and not sure what birds you’re hearing, I don’t want you to feel hopeless. I’m adding number 7 here so you can be sure to have at least one correct response.
7. I promise you’ll get this one. Not a bird we usually talk about here, but it is a bird. naturesongs.com/…
8. Here’s a whole flock of these guys: www.naturesongs.com/...
9. This one is kinda tough if you don’t commonly hear this. But give it a try. www.naturesongs.com/…
10. This final bird will stump everyone, I fear, I’m including it to see if anyone wants to take a guess. It’s a common bird, very large (one of the largest) and its range includes marshes, shorelines, estuaries, and ponds throughout the U.S. I’ve seen these birds more than a hundred times but I say this is a stumper because in all my years seeing this bird, I have NEVER heard it vocalize! www.naturesongs.com/...
Okay, there you have it. Ten species represented by their calls. Are you ready to check your answers? Scroll past these photos placed below to prevent you from accidentally seeing the answers before you were ready to.
The preceding photos are brought to you by me arriving late on the scene of whatever rare bird caused everyone to jump in their cars and arrive en masse to see it.
Now, the answers:
1. This call: www.naturesongs.com/… was made by this guy.
2. This call: www.naturesongs.com/… was made by a gaggle of these.
3, This call: www.naturesongs.com/… was made by one of these.
4. This sound: www.naturesongs.com/… is made by two of these owls talking.
5. This song: www.naturesongs.com/… belongs to this little guy seen everywhere.
6. This sound: www.naturesongs.com/… represents the vocal stylings of these birds.
7. This sound: naturesongs.com/… is brought to you by one of these guys.
8. This sound: www.naturesongs.com/… comes from a flock of these guys.
9. This shriek: www.naturesongs.com/… is the sharp call of this fine fellow.
10. Despite seeing this bird in the field dozens and dozens of times, I have never before heard its call in person. This call: www.naturesongs.com/… belongs to this giant.
So, how did you do? If anyone got eight or more, you’re a freak of ornithology. I think the Northern Flicker and the Great Blue Heron were particularly difficult. If you care to share, let us know how you fared.
The floor is open for your birdy observations, comments, photos, questions and anything else you want to share.