Hi Mike, I have been studying and documenting birds for the past two years on the HP Campus and Ute Valley Park in El Paso County. One of my biggest surprises was the range of mimicry of the lesser goldfinch - of which there have been many each summer in the area. They seem to mimic every bird in the area with very few exceptions. If this is due to mimicry-by-association, then your lesser goldfinches must have spent some time with the bobwhites somewhere.
I did research in BNA on this, and their treatment of the goldfinches matches my experience over the past two years. This "...characteristic is shared with lawrence's, but not with Pine Siskins or Am goldfinches. ... Remsen et al. (1982) reported mimicry of at least 30 other species by Lesser Goldfinches in CA. 39 species in AZ including a rock squirrel." They nest later in the season than most species, often timing to coincide with thistle blooming for nest material and then seeds after fruiting. I have a nest on the HP campus that should have hatched young last week sometime. Let us know if you are ever able to confirm this one way or the other. Jeff J Jones [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of mike Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 4:57 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [cobirds] Question re: Lesser Goldfinches/ Northern Bobwhite During the past month several of us have heard the "bobwhite call" in Bear Creek Lake Park. This morning Rob Raker and I heard it several times, went to the vicinity of the call, were unable to track down the source of the call, then played a tape of the Northern Bobwhite (with no response). After listening carefully to the "bobwhite call", then playing a tape, the actual call in the park seems clearer, sweeter, and just a phrase inserted into a song rather than an actual N. Bobwhite or a covey of birds. In my five years of birding BCLP, I have never seen bobwhite in the park nor heard them before this summer. My hunch is that we have Lesser Goldfinch imitating a bobwhite call, although I have been unable to confirm my suspicion. I know that Lesser Goldfinch mimic the calls of other birds - does anyone out there have experience with Lesser Goldfinch imitating the "bobwhite call"? I should also note that today as well as on one other occasion, there was a Catbird in the vicinity, but the "bobwhite call" seems too sweet for a Gray Catbird. I also know that it's possible that someone released a Bobwhite into the park, but after this morning I don't believe that is the case. I would welcome hearing from folks that might be able shed some light on the mysterious "bobwhite call" we've been hearing in BCLP. Thanks, Mike Henwood BCLP - Jefferson County Morrison --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
