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BIRD SONG QUIZ
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TEST YOUR BIRD SONG ID SKILLS (no sound recordings)
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As shown previously my "system" allows you to access (find the category of) a mystery song. Once you have done this, a variety of clues and descriptions are provided, which will hopefully clinch the final identification, within that particular category. Here I give you the opportunity to test your level of "expertise", based mainly on verbal descriptions of the song and in some cases its habitat or behaviour. I have divided them into three categories according to their difficulty as I see them.
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ANSWERS
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I Beginner:
1. A common city bird that delivers a long series of "CHIP-CHEEP-CHIP-CHEEP...."
notes. A very social bird, usually seen and heard with others of its kind.
2. A common bird of woodlands, fields and parks. It gives a loud, raspy, nasal "CAW"
which can be repeated several times. It has a variety of other sounds and calls,
although it is the first description that most beginners recognize.
3. An aggressive, noisy bird with a raucus call. It gives a harsh, piercing
"JAAY-JAAY-JAAY...", but it also has some pleasant bell-like notes, beginners
may not associate with this bird.
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4. A very loud, rich "TWEER-TWEER-TWEER...", each note sliding downward and
given at a moderate pace. It is a common song in urban areas, and is usually
delivered from high in a tree. It is often combined with other two-note phrases
"TWEER-TWEER-TWEER" with a faster "BIRDY-BIRDY-BIRDY...", for instance.
5. A loud rolling "cheerful" song, consisting of short, sweet phrases, rising and falling,
"CHEERILY-CHEERY-CHEERILY-CHEER". The overall song is repeated after a
noticeable pause (although some morning versions have a more continuous delivery,
with the pause much less noticeable). A common song in town or city, but often
most noticeable in the morning or the evening.
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II Intermediate:
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6. A slow, drawn-out and whistled "PEEE-A-WEEE", sliding lower on the second note
and then upward on the third. Sometimes a two-noted "PEEE-YURR" (downward on
the second syllable) is worked into the delivery. The overall song has a melancholy or plaintive quality.
7. A dull, unmusical trill, consisting of rapidly repeated, sharp "CHIPS" in the same
cadence as a rapidly running sewing machine. It is a common bird of woodlands,
parks and gardens.
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8. A very loud, single "WHEEP", or a loud, burry "FRREEEP" (each rising and on a fairly high pitch). These notes can be repeated with varying pauses. A bird of open
woodlands and orchards, often higher up in the tree.
9. Two sharp, dry notes repeated quickly, over and over. "CHE-BEK CHE-BEK
CHE-BEK..."
10. A common bird of marshes, roadsides and streamside thickets. Its song is quite
variable, but it is usually introduced by 2-3 sweet notes, followed by some buzzy
notes and a lower liquid trill, and ending with a lower buzzy note (sometimes 2-3
notes). "SWEET-SWEET-SWEET-ZREE-SUGAR-IT-IT-IT".
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11. This grassland bird sings from a perch or in the air and has an exuberant, bubbling overflow of notes (no two the same). It speeds up as it proceeds, producing a rather disjointed song, as the varied notes run into each other or trip over each other. It sometimes gives the impression of having too many notes to deliver in
too short a time.
12. This bird commonly repeats notes or phrases, or sings in couplets. The notes in
its loud, rich song range from harsh to sweet whistles. It is sung deliberately and
each couplet is separated by a brief but noticeable pause
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III Advanced:
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13. Several (3-5) evenly spaced, buzzing notes on one pitch, with the last note
noticeably higher, and often slurring upward. "ZEEP-ZEEP-ZEEP-ZEEP-ZEEE". The quality of the song is husky, nasal and buzzing.
14. A repeated "KRER-KRER-KRER", or "QUERRR-QUERRR-QUERRR" (with a
rolling of the "R", giving it a trilled quality). Each note drops slightly at the end.
15. A long, rambling, warbling, up and down song (roller-coastering) that usually ends
on an upswing, and is delivered with a slightly burry quality. The bird is a
persistent singer and its song is common in open woodlands. A rolling
"VIREO-VIREO-VIREO-VIREO-VIREO-VREET"
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16. Short, sweet, emphatic, Robin-like phrases (2-3 notes each), with brief pauses
between each, repeated over and over. The phrases are variable, but almost sound
like questions and answers sometimes, as the short phrases end with upward,
then downward inflections. Most do end with upward inflection normally.
17. This song is similar to #16. However each phrase is simpler and more to the point,
as well as slower, higher and sweeter.
18. A loud, repeated series of high-pitched notes, followed by a short trill on a lower
pitch. The song is delivered at a moderate speed.
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19. This spring migrant has a raspy, buzzing song of four notes, the first note long,
and the last three shorter and on a lower pitch.
A lazy "ZEEE-ZREE-ZREE-ZREE".
20. This marsh bird gives a loud, sharp, piercing "SKEOW" or "KEOW" (one syllable),
as well as low clucking notes.
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