Bob,
My wife and I had a similar experience also in RMNP at nearby Hollowell
Park on an evening walk in early June. There were many Robins in the
ponderosa pines uphill from the trail singing, and one was doing a very
Black-headed Grosbeak-like song. There were also some Black-headed
Grosbeaks around, mostly in the willows down by the stream, but some
flying up to the ponderosas. It is interesting to speculate whether
hearing Grosbeaks singing influences song development in nearby Robins.
Jim Nelson
Bethesda, Maryland
On 6/23/2018 6:30 PM, Bob Righter wrote:
Was I hearing the song from a Robin or was it from a Black-headed
Grosbeak?
I usually associate the song of the Black-headed Grosbeak as being
patterned like a Robin but embellished with various toots, whistles,
and slurred notes, delivered at slightly faster tempo. The Grosbeak’s
song is sometimes referred to as sounding like a revved up Robin.
On the east side of Moraine Park, in RMNP, I heard a song emanating
from a spruce-fir-ponderosa habitat, that to me sounded like a typical
Black-headed Grosbeak’s song. However wherever I looked in the
direction of the song all I could see were Robins.
From a patch of willows that were adjacent to the conifers I heard and
saw a Black-headed Grosbeak singing. Shortly it flew to a Douglas-fir
limb and continued singing for a short time.
What was I to think? Do Robins really have that range of song
diversity to sound like a Black-headed Grosbeak, could Robins and
Blacked Grosbeaks mimic each other’s song, like individuals from other
songbird families, or was I just hearing an odd, revved up Robin
singing?I’m inclined to believe I was hearing a revved up Robin that
coincidently was in the same neighborhood as the Black-headed Grosbeak.
That’s why birding is fun—one never knows where the next birding
dilemma will occur.
If any one would like to hear the recording I obtained, let me know as
I’d be delighted to send a copy, but it wouldn’t be until next week,
as I have to download the file to the computer, which is in Denver.
Bob Righter
Denver, CO
Sent from my iPad
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