What am I Looking and Listening For?
October 25th, 2022 by georgann
Here is a concise, user-friendly guide to field marks and songs of selected neotropical migrants nesting in Georgia
Eastern Wood-Pewee whitish wingbars, no eye ring, yellow lower mandible
does not wag tail. “Pee-a-wee”
Wood Thrush plump, large round spots on breast and belly. Flute-like song.
Prairie Warbler yellow underparts, 2 black face marks, black stripes down sides,
bobs tail. “zee zee zee zee” upscale in distinct notes.
Swainson’s Warbler brown, with solid rusty-brown crown. High and low slurred notes.
“Deeta, deeta, Whip-poor-will”, emphasis on “Whip-poor-will”.
Worm-eating Warbler brownish with dark stripes on head. Song is dry trill, similiar to
pine warbler.
Louisiana Waterthrush brown, whitish eyebrow, striped underparts, white throat.
Slurred whistle ending in twitter, similiar to Swainson’s Warbler
but ending trails off softly.
Acadian Flycatcher greenish with yellowish-white eyering. Explosive “peet-suh”.
Yellow-throated Vireo bright yellow throat, yellow spectacles, white wingbars.
Song similiar to Red-eyed Vireo but burry and slower.
Hooded Warbler black hood around yellow face and forehead, white tail spots. Female lacks strong hood. “Weeta-weet-eo”.
Gray Catbird slate gray, black cap, rufous undertail. Mewing call.
Black-throated Blue Warbler upperparts blue, throat and sides black, white belly. Female
brownish-olive with small white wing patch.
“Beer beer beer beer bee” wheezy, last note higher
Ovenbird russet patch on crown bordered by dark stripes, walks on
ground. “Teach, teach, teach, teach” crescendo
Summer Tanager entire body red, no crest. Female olive and yellow.
“Chicki-tucki-tuck” call, song similiar to Robin’s but higher pitch.
Blue-winged Warbler yellow face and underparts with black eye line, white wingbars
on blue wings. “Bee-bzzz”.
Prothonotary Warbler head and chest golden yellow with bluish wings, no wingbars.
“Zweet zweet zweet zweet” ringing.
Orchard Oriole rusty orange underparts with black head, wings and tail. Female
olive green, imm male olive green with black bib. No wing bars.
Song fast varied whistles downslurred at end, with chatter notes.
Chestnut-sided Warbler yellow crown, chestnut sides, white underparts. “Please, please
please, to meet you!”
.
Golden-winged Warbler black throat, yellow crown and wing patch, white underparts.
“Bee bzz bzz bzz”.
Canada Warbler yellow underparts, black necklace, yellow spectacles. Rich and
variable warbler with sharp chip notes at beginning.
Black-throated Green Warbler yellow face with black throat, white wingbars. Female less
black. “Zay zay zay zoo zee” wheezy.
Blackburnian Warbler black face marking with bright orange throat. High pitched
song ends in barely audible notes.
Kentucky Warbler black moustache, yellow eye ring, yellow underparts. “Churry,
churry, churry” rolling.
Scarlet Tanager bright red with black wings and tail. Female yellow-green. Beak
smaller than summer tanager. Hoarse robin-like song, chip burr
call.
Northern Parula yellow throat with bluish back, chestnut band across chest in
male. “zeeeeeeee-up” buzzy upscale
Bachman’s Warbler face and belly yellow, throat and crown black. “Bzz bzz bzz”
Painted Bunting blue head, greenish-yellow back, red underparts and rump.
Female greenish-yellow. Rich and varied warble, sharp
chip note.
Great Crested Flycatcher olive head, gray throat, yellow belly. “Wheep” loud, whistled
upscale.
Yellow-throated Warbler black and white on face, bright yellow throat, white belly. Song
clear, slurred, paired notes, ending in faster notes.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo grayish-brown above, white below, yellow mandible, long tail
with white spots. Rufous on wings when flying.
“Kuk kuk kuk”staccato ending with “kakakowlp-kowlp”.
White-eyed Vireo White eye, yellow spectacles, wingbars. Song, “Quick with the
beer check!”.
Birding Adventures, Inc.
Georgann Schmalz
Ornithologist
www.birdingadventuresinc.com