The Trillogy
I would like to generate some comments on the topic of distinguishing the trill songs of Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, and Pine Warbler.
The idea for this topic came when birding this spring and having the feeling that pine warblers were here, but I could not distinguish them from the numerous Juncos and ever increasing chipping sparrows. Then one evening I had this Zen-like birding experience. I entered a Red Pine forest, heard a trill, knew that it was a Pine Warbler, looked up and confirmed my instinct with a great look at the bird.
So needless to say, there is a difference between the trills of these three species, we may be able to distinguish it most of the time, but how do you describe the difference between the trills to someone else??
I realize that we are programmed to call a “ringing bell” a Junco, a “dry trill” a Chippy, and a “rich trill” a Pine Warbler but it would be erroneous to think it’s that straight forward.
More than once a Junco has let out a “dry trill” and a “rich trill” so is there any better way to go about distinguishing these songs?
I have a few suggestions but anticipate hearing yours first.
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May 13th, 2006 @ 5:19 pm
Ry,
Great title for the post by the way, you certainly are a clever one.
To start off, I am well familiar with the perplexing nature of trill songs, especially in the Northeast. Yeah there are a few others species around that trill (e.g. Worm-eating Warbler) but they are often far enough from the norm of a trill that they don’t even get named as having a trill (”dry rattle”). So we are fortunate enough to work with just 3 hard to separate
(at times) species.
Recently, here at the Palomarin Field Station in coastal CA we had the same problem of teaching new interns the difference between trilling species, this time with the Dark-eyed “Oregon” Juncos, and the newly arriving Orange-crowned Warblers. And while most of the experienced staff have a good handle on it too, I know of at least one case where an experienced person called a singing triller an Orange-crowned Warbler, but when the bird popped into view it was a Junco!…this of course threw the intern who was learning songs at the time for a loop because up to that point in time she had felt confident in separating the two…but how confident can one actually get? At this site it can be hard because I have often heard Oregon Juncos singing a trill quite near to what the Orange-crowns would.
Personally, I feel that separation of these three trillers of the Northeast can be done with confidence if given enough time and patience with any particular bird. So what can one listen for to make separation of these species easier in the field?
Often I use habitat clues as a start(doesn’t work in some sites I frequent due to Chipping Sparrows and Pine Warblers utilizing the same conifers), and this seems to be helpful, but only to a degree. Other clues that I tend to go for is the “richness” of the trill and the duration of the trill. To me a singing Pine Warbler can sound a little dry, but a Chipping Sparrow rarely has that ‘musical’ quality that the warbler often exhibits. The last thing that I think is perhaps one of the most important is to listen to the pitch of the song. At this site singing Orange-crowns have a trill slightly slows at the end and slightly drops in pitch, while a singing Junco will have the same “ringing bell” tone right until the end.
At any rate, this is my starting two cents. Perhaps my thoughts would be more conclusive in this had I not been up since 4am, but this is a start. I will let others respond (including Ryan) for I am interested in hearing what they have to say before I generate any more thoughts to this as a comment.
Chad
May 19th, 2006 @ 5:58 pm
so yeah, as Chad mentioned Habitat clues are often helpful. Habitat, similar to many other clues, is based on generalizations and in this case is not always diagnostic. Chances are a steady bell-like ringing trill coming from deep in the forest is coming from a Junco. Correct me if you feel otherwise but Chipping Sparrows tend to stick more to edge habitat. Of course Juncos will sing from most anywhere so you see what I mean by ‘gereralization.’
I concur with Chad as well on the fact that Pine Warbler’s sound more ‘musical’. Their trill is so much sweeter and rich. 98% of my Pine Warbler sightings have been in either Red or White Pine trees living up to their name.
Any thoughts on timing? Would any one else agree that early in the migration/breeding season, a majority of trillers are Juncos and by May (in the NE) a majority are Chippies? There is possibly only a period of two weeks where there is a likely chance of encountering all three trills.
hmmm… perplexing slightly
May 25th, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
I say perplexing…greatly. I feel that timing is important. In all honesty, I hardly ever hear Juncos singing in the lower elevation areas in Columbia County, but come late April/early May almost all the trills that I hear are coming from Chipping Sparrows first arriving onto their territories. I also agree with the Pine Warbler songs in the fact that they often originate from White and Red Pines. I’ll have to think more on this and weigh in later.
June 5th, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
I would like to revamp my comment on seasonal timing of our trillers. Some of my habitat comments are weak at best also. Truth is, this is a tricky vocal ID that can only be approached with a relatively small level of confidence. Recently, in late May, I observed a Junco singing from edge habitat and frolicking with a Chipping Sparrow. It was neat to have them together especially seeing as we have this thread going, but makes habitat assumptions a bit well… bogus.
Both sang for me counting out that seasonal business.
I also recently heard Pine Warblers Trilling. The trill was short and sweet coming from a grove of White Pines in New Hampshire last weekend.
my current synopsis is that the trillogy takes a good amount of field experience and a careful ear to regularly ID these species; and don’t be afraid if you’re wrong.
Ry