Care Needed - Black-billed Cuckoo vs. Eastern Chipmunk

[Bill Hubick]

Hi Everyone,

There have been a large number of recent reports of calling Black-billed Cuckoos at locations where Eastern Chipmunks are now vocal. Like most southbound migrants, cuckoos are not likely to be calling at length and throughout the day this late in the season. Eastern Chipmunks, on the other hand, are now quite vocal with their "chuck" or "cluck" calls. These can strongly resemble the calls of Black-billed Cuckoo. If one were only considering bird options, this would be a pretty close match.

Here's a perfect recording from Cornell's Macaulay Library. Please give a listen:

http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/126506

For anyone reporting vocal Black-billed Cuckoos at this time of year, please consider this option.

Thanks!

Bill

 

Bill Hubick

Pasadena, Maryland

bill_...@yahoo.com

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