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anita55_gw

This is the northeast US bird ID if you can

13 years ago

Hello, I hope everybody's doing great! I haven't visited here in years but I'm hoping somebody can help me figure what bird my friend is hearing in the woods. We spotted one the other day but it was too far for me to see clearly. She describes the call as an electronic sound. The bird is a small perching bird with a buff or tan belly and a red or reddish patch on the head. She said it was flicking it's tail. Does anybody have a clue, or perhaps just point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Comments (2)

  • 13 years ago

    A lot of guesswork here but, based on the color description of the bird, I'd start with Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Flicker. Maybe even give Yellow-bellied Sapsucker a whirl.

    All three are woodpeckers; they have a distinctive look and behavior (electronic sound, not so much, IMO). If not a woodpecker then.......the only birds I can think of that I'd personally describe as having an "electronic" sounding call would be the Blue Jay and maybe the Eastern Kingbird. Blue Jays obviously have no red, and Eastern Kingbirds only show a red crown patch when highly agitated. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are itty bitty, never sit still, rarely show their red crown, and don't sound electronic. A female Northern Cardinal would flick her tail and meet the physical description from above, but I don't think they sound electronic. Perhaps a slightly metallic warning call but, then again, I don't want to assume folks don't know a Cardinal when they see it (they are so common).

    Perhaps give House Finch and Purple Finch a look, but eh......not so electronic sounding, really.

    It's tough to make a good guess without a better description of the call and the bird.

    This post was edited by TMFF on Mon, Jun 17, 13 at 15:01

  • 13 years ago

    Thanks for trying. I k ow its not easy. It's a small perching bird. Somewhat nondescript. I'll try to record it next time I'm in the woods

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