Song thrush singing (Title Photo)
Hi all, it’s come to my attention that the mail you received this morning might have included the answers to all the questions below 🙁 – let me know in the comments if this has happened to you! What I intend to do is to mix the sound files up later this afternoon and see if I can remove any ID so you can still have a go. Blooming WordPress…..
Dear Readers, International Dawn Chorus Day was on the first Sunday in May, but in many places the birds are still going strong. How are your identification skills, though? Below are the songs of 10 British birds that you can often hear first thing in the morning, so let’s see how good you are at telling one from another. I’ve made this multiple choice because it ain’t as easy as it sounds. I’ve also tried not to include too many birds that sound the same, but until you get your ‘ear in’ that can be a tough call. I will do a quick post on what I’ve learned about bird songs next week.
Simply match the sounds to the birds. So, if you think song (1) is a blue tit, your answer is 1) a).
As usual, answers in the comments by Thursday 3rd June (5 p.m. UK time) and I will post the results on Friday 4th June. I will ‘disappear’ any answers that I spot, but if you are easily influenced by what came before, write them down first.
Onwards!
Species:
A) Blue Tit
B) Blackbird
C) Song Thrush
D) Chiffchaff
E) Woodpigeon
F) Great Tit
G) Goldfinch
H) Robin
I) Wren
J) Chaffinch
The Songs….
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
And finally, this is about as un-British a bird as you could hope to find. An extra point for anyone who can guess what on earth this is…..
11)
Good morning! You are giving all the answers in the mail…
Hi Claire, you need to match the names of the birds to the calls (they aren’t in the same order)- or did I miss something?
Maybe forward me the mail so I can see?
This is the relevant part of your mail, in case Claire is now out and about …
The Songs….
1)
XC646068-European-Robin-Erithacus-rubecula.mp3
2)
XC651508-Common-Wood-Pigeon-Columba-palumbus.mp3
3)
XC649347-Eurasian-Wren-Troglodytes-troglodytes.mp3
And so on, all the way down to, and including, the ostrich.
Which would be a shame BUT:
I would like to thank you! Not only have I thought to myself so many times recently that I would love to be able to identify which song is which from the glorious chorus we hear in our semi-rural area of Normandy, but also …
Sitting in my kitchen with the window open, I started listening to some of the songs – and got replies! The robin, the blue tit, the blackbird, and even the wren, which I played deliberately as we have a nest which we thought might be a wren’s nest, all responded vigorously to their species calls. You have made my weekend!
Thanks Rosalind! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post anyway! I’m going to try to fix it later this afternoon so you can still have a go if you fancy it 🙂