Mystery bird - help with ID?

Andrew G

unread,

Jun 10, 2023, 4:52:05 PM6/10/23

to Maine birds

Hi all,

I've been hearing this bird for weeks around my house here in Wayne, throughout the day. The call seems very simple, but I don't recognize it, and Merlin doesn't register at all. I've been trying for weeks with no luck, so thought I'd record it and post it here. Asked some exeperienced birder friends and they were likewise baffled. I have an amplified and un-amplified recording; adjust your volume accordingly.

I haven't been able to see the bird at all, but we're right by a lake. I think I've only heard one. The pattern I recorded here is by far the most common, though there do seem to be one or two other variations, shorter, with only two to four notes.

Thanks so much for any and all help!

edited_mystery_bird_1.wav

mystery_bird_2_amplified.wav

Julia Hanauer-Milne

unread,

Jun 10, 2023, 5:17:03 PM6/10/23

to Andrew G, Maine birds

My vote is for either tufted titmouse or Carolina wren. They both give a variety of calls —some are similar to this—and have fooled me more than once. Interested to hear what others think.

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine...@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/3b99eba7-9a60-4d67-adc5-b8d4a3073d68n%40googlegroups.com.

Julia Hanauer-Milne

unread,

Jun 10, 2023, 5:19:35 PM6/10/23

to Andrew G, Maine birds

I just played it for Merlin, which came up with Baltimore Oriole. That’s a possibility! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Bill Sheehan

unread,

Jun 10, 2023, 7:14:09 PM6/10/23

to Julia Hanauer-Milne, Andrew G, Maine birds

HI Andrew

It sounds a lot like the whistle-y song of the Baltimore Orioles I recorded yesterday at Lake Josephine in Easton.

Baltimore Orioles are decidedly riparian here in Aroostook county. After migration they seem to settle in to areas with mature poplar trees along the river, pond and lake shores.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Bill

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/CACOvFed8rRFYanG9T6nNVMa%3DKMFwrGi1_8mqtDEQ3MY6-HYitw%40mail.gmail.com.

--

Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

BAOR Lake Jo 9 Jun 2023 (1).m4a

Reply all

Reply to author

Forward