This is a good reminder that the new Sound ID function in Merlin is a great way to cue into new sounds and learn to ID birds, but should never be taken as the final word on an identification. In this case, trilling species like Worm-eating Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and even Pine Warbler can be challenging for even experienced birders to identify with confidence, and the sound ID model has trouble being sure as well. Juncos in particular pose a challenge, with their extreme variation between individuals. So certainly, if you're in the right habitat, look a little harder for a bird flagged as a possible Worm-eating, but in the cases you describe, these were almost certainly Chipping Sparrows.
P.S. I'd be happy to take a listen to a recording if you want to send it privately. Jay On Sun, Jul 4, 2021 at 6:38 PM Barbara Bauer Sadovnic <bsadov...@htva.net> wrote: > The same thing happened to me today, also while eating breakfast on my > porch, in Enfield! I also tried BirdNET, and got the same result, although > that might have been a “wild guess.” When I went looking for it I thought I > saw a chipping sparrow, but couldn’t get a good look. > > Later in the day the bird (I think the same bird) was closer, and was > identified as a chipping sparrow. But I couldn’t find it. > > Just now I heard it again, and again Merlin thought “worm-eating warbler.” > When I got closer Merlin changed his mind to chipping sparrow, and when I > finally got a good look, I did see chipping sparrow, singing. > > I am really enjoying the new Merlin. > > On Jul 4, 2021, at 1:15 PM, KitKat PonyBird <kitkatponyb...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > While enjoying breakfast on my back porch today, I heard an > unfamiliar bird. The new Sound ID on the Merlin app came up with > Worm-eating Warbler. > > Merlin says this bird is rare for this area. I heard at least three of > the same song from different locations at nearly the same time. Still > hearing them around. > > I did a couple of recordings, but don't know (yet) how to share them. > It's definitely different from the chipping sparrows I usually hear. > > Wish I'd been able to get a visual. > > Happy Birding > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
