Mnemonics for Warblers
October 25th, 2022 by georgann
A QUICK GUIDE TO THE SONGS OF EASTERN WARBLERS
Black-and-white “wheezy, wheezy, wheezy” squeaky wheel
Swainson’s “deeta deeta-whip’-poor-will” accent on last three syllables
Worm-eating insect-like, dry trill
Golden-winged “bee- buzz, buzz, buzz” last three lower pitched
Blue-winged “beee-buzz” last note lower pitch
Tennessee “tika-tika-tika, chip-chip-chip, sit-sit-sit-sit” staccato, three parts
Orange-crowned “chip-ee, chip-ee, chip-ee” trill with slower and dropping end
Nashville “see-bit, see-bit, see-bit, titititititi” loud, two parts
Northern Parula “zeeeee-up” buzzy ascending notes tipping over at end
Yellow “sweet sweet sweet, I’m so sweet”
Magnolia “wheet-wheet’eo” slurred phrases with ending note higher in pitch
Cape May “sing sing sing sing sing” high, thin slurry 5-6 notes
Black-throated Green “zay zay zay zoo zee” all buzzy notes
Black-throated Blue “I am lazeee” or “beer beer beer beeee”, buzzy notes, ending accented
Chestnut-sided “please, please, please to meet’cha”
Ovenbird “teach teach teach teach” each louder
Kentucky “toree’ toree’ toree” galloping like a horse
Blackburnian “seep seep seep seep, titi, zeeee” 3 parts, very high pitched rising ending
Yellow-throated “neater neater neater, I’m so neat” paired notes with rushed ending
American Redstart “zee zee zee zee zit” wheezy quality with sneezy ending
Prothonotary “sweet sweet sweet sweet” loud, ringing
Yellow-rumped slow musical trill with two parts
Hooded “wheeta wheeta wheet’eo”
Prairie “zee zee zee zee zee zee” upscale, buzzy
Pine musical trill and “lippy”
Cerulean “zray zray zray zray zeeeeee” buzzy ending similar to Northern Parula’s without tip over
Bay-breasted “teesi teesi teesi teesi” high thin double syllable
Blackpoll “tseet” high thin notes rapid and very mechanical
Palm “zwee zwee zwee zwee zwee” buzzlike, fast trill
Common Yellowthroat “wichity, wichity wichity, wich” varies
Louisiana Waterthrush “sweeu sweeu sweeu chee chwit it chit” loud clear fading ending
Northern Waterthrush “twit twit twit twit, sweet” more choppy than Louisiana Waterthrush
Mourning “cheerie, cheerie, chorrie, chorrie” two parts, second lower in pitch
Connecticut “beecher, beecher, beecher” jerky
Canada “chip” followed by staccato series of short notes, last one rising in pitch
Wilson’s “chee chee chee” slurred quick notes, dropping in pitch
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Georgann Schmalz, Ornithologist
Birding Adventures, Inc
www.birdingadventuresinc.com