Gerard -- Since Jim is undoubtedly enjoying a flood of migrants this morning after what has apparently been the heaviest migration night of the season, while I'm socked in with rain 25 miles south of him, I'll go ahead and respond....
Varied Thrushes give a flight call very much like the lovely iconic song that reverberates through the PNW rainforests -- that ethereal combination of a whistle and a vibratory hum. However, the call in flight is generally a shorter and throatier version of that vocalization, more of a guttural "whzurrrr" than a long thin "whhzzzzeeeeeee". This call is also heard on the ground. I've heard this call from birds in flight at night, at dawn, and after daylight. They seem to me to call more at dawn and after dawn than at night, but then that may simply be a function of when I'm most often listening. Jim's more nocturnally active than I am, so I certainly trust his judgment on this. Like Robins, Varied Thrushes continue their nocturnal migration for sometimes up to a few hours in the morning, so it is feasible to see them as they migrate over, occasionally calling. I've never heard their Hermit-Thrush-like "chuck" or "tuk" call note used in flight. Jim, any comments on the above? I'm hoping that you've gotten a flood of birds over your yard last night and this morning and that the rain clears up a bit down my way so that I can partake, too. Jay Withgott Portland, Oregon At 8:43 AM -0400 10/7/11, SLIMBIRD Gerard wrote: >Jim, > >>From an Eastern perspective, I'm curious (ok really interested!) to >>know the call Varied Thrush use at night, and/or how you're >>identifying them? > >I also add a hearty thanks to everyone sharing their experience of >flight calls to the list, especially if/when supported with clips >etc. It's always enlightening! > >Thanks, > >Gerard > >Eastern Ontario > > >On 10/6/11 9:00 PM, "Jim Danzenbaker" <[email protected]> wrote: > >Nocturnal flight enthusiasts, > >I live in Battle Ground, Washington which is 20 miles due north of >Portland, Oregon. I've been listening for about 6 years - mostly >Swainson's Thrushes which can number in the thousands on some nights >in September. I was listening from 5:45-7 this morning and had a >good variety although not many individuals: > >Varied Thrush 21* >Hermit Thrush 1 >Swainson's Thrush 3 >Zonotrichia 1 >Song Sparrow 1 >Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 >misc chips 8 > >* this is only the third time I've heard nocturnal migrant Varied >Thrushes and only single birds on the other two occasions. > >Conditions were overcast with calm winds which was a big change from >the south winds and rainy conditions of the last several nights. > >Jim > > >-- >NFC-L List Info: ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/NFC_WELCOME>Welcome and Basics ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/NFC_RULES>Rules and Information ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>Subscribe, > >Configuration and Leave >Archives: ><http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html>The Mail Archive ><http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L>Surfbirds ><http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html>BirdingOnThe.Net >Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>eBird! >-- -- NFC-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_WELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC_RULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NFC-L_SubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NFC-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NFCL.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
