Megan's Nature Nook
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When I am out birding, I rely on my ears a lot! Often times I hear a bird before I see it and can use their call to hone in where to look for the bird. Even with an idea of where the bird is, you can’t always spot it because it’s hiding in dense vegetation, is a distance away, it’s too dark, or you might spot it but can’t tell two very similar species apart. That is where birding by ear comes in! By learning the songs and calls of birds, you’ll more easily be able to identify the birds around you, even if you can’t get a great look at them. One of the things you can do to help you remember bird songs and calls is to put words to it, a tool called mnemonics (the M is not pronounced). A mnemonic device is a learning tool to aid in memory. By putting a word or phrase to a bird call or song, you’ll more easily be able to remember it and be able to successfully identify a bird whether you’re able to spot it or not. Even with bird mnemonics, identifying bird calls can be tricky! Many birds make more than one type of sound. Don’t let this discourage you, birding by ear is a process that takes time and practice! The more you get out birding and pay attention to the calls and who is making them, the easier it will become. Two of my favorite bird apps for bird calls and identification are Merlin and BirdNET.
Below I have complied a list of some Minnesota birds and their mnemonics. It is just a handful of the many birds in Minnesota, but it will get you started on your way to birding by ear. Common Birds American Goldfinch po-ta-to-chip (when flying) chip, chip, chip-py American Robin cheer-up, cheer-a-lee, cheer-ee-o Black-capped Chickadee chik-a-dee-dee-dee (the more dee’s the more danger) Cheese-bur-ger (high note followed by two lower notes on the same pitch) Northern Cardinal cheer-cheer-cheer-purty-purty-purty White-breasted Nuthatch yank, yank, yank (very nasally, sound kind of like they’re laughing at you) Red-winged Blackbird konk-o-reeeeeeeee Song Sparrow maids maids-maids-put-on-your tea-kettle-ettle-ettle, Hip; hip; hip hurrah boys; spring is here! Madge; Madge; Madge pick beetles off; the water's hot Chipping Sparrow chipping trill (mechanical sounding) Dark-eyed Junco riiiiing riiiing (old telephone ring, high pitched trill) Northern Flicker flicka, flicka, flicka, flicka, flicka wika, wika, wika, wika, wika Red-bellied Woodpecker churrr, churrr Tufted Titmouse Peter, peter, peter Brown-headed Cowbird Bubble-bubble-zeeee! (sounds like water dripping) White-throated Sparrow Oh sweet, Canada, Canada, Canada (low note followed but repeating higher notes) Oh Sam, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody Gray Catbird meeeee-ew or maaaaaanh (nasally) Ovenbird t-cher, t-cher, t-cher (very fast and increasing in volume) Yellow Warbler sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet Common Yellowthroat whitchity, whitchity, whitchity Great Crested Flycatcher reeep, reeep (buzzy) Red-eyed Vireo Where are you? Here I am. Over here (pause between each phrase) Indigo Bunting Fire, fire! Where, where? Here, Here! Put-it-out, put-it-out! Sweet, sweet, chew, chew, see-it, see-it Chimney Swift t-t-t-t-t-t-t (chittering) Eastern Towhee Drink-your-teeaaaa (tea is a musical trill, may be more than one “drink” note) Common Nighthawk beeeer, beeeer (somewhat buzzy) American Woodcock Peeent; peeent; peeent (nasally with pauses between peents) Owls Barred Owl Who-cook-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-allll? Great Horned Owl Who’s awake? Me too Saw-whet Owl too-too-too (like truck back up beeping signal) Birds that Say Their Name Eastern Phoebe FEE-beee (very buzzy, sounds like they’re yelling their name, last syllable raspy) Eastern Wood Pewee Pee-oo-weeEEE Killdeer kill-deeeeer kill-deeeeer kee-dee kee-dee Blue Jay jay jay jay queedle-queedle-queedle fee-der-de-lurp Bobwhite bob-white! Whip-poor-will whip-poooor-will, whip-poor-will For pictures of the above birds, more information about them, and to hear their calls use the Merlin app or visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website. Now that you know some new tricks to bird songs and calls, test out your skills and see who you can hear singing! Happy Birding!
For more tips on how to learn bird songs and calls, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website by clicking the button below.
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