A flock of migrating White-throated Sparrows singing from a shrubby thicket at dawn (with North Cardinals singing prominently as well). 5:40am, 27 April 2016, Finger Lakes National Forest near Trumansburg, New York. Note: this is a 3D binaural recording; please wear headphones for optimal immersion. © Lang Elliott.
I rose at 4:30am on this frosty morning and headed for Finger Lakes National Forest, arriving at about 5:15am. Birds were already singing, especially the cardinals. I followed a trail through a wooded area, thinking I would get a closeup recording of one of the cardinals. Instead I came across something very special … a migrating flock of White-throated Sparrows, awakening to the day in a thicket at the edge of the woods. I was immediately impressed by the veritable symphony of thin whistles rising from the shrubs, like fine whispers of steam escaping inflated throats after a night of restful fermentation. Such poetry of sound … such tonic for the ears!
What good fortune to come across these birds! Although I lost several minutes fumbling with my recorder, I managed to get about seven minutes of this stunning concert before individuals began dispersing from the thicket. I’m sorely tempted to go back tomorrow for another try, but perhaps this recording is plenty good enough?
I’m curious how everyone will respond to this mixture of sound. It was very pleasurable to behold on-location … the pure-tone whistles of perhaps four white-throats set against the bright notes of three (or more?) cardinals. I couldn’t see the singers in the twilight of dawn, although I detected some movement at times, and occasionally heard the soft flutter of wings. White-throated Sparrows do breed in my area, but certainly not at this location. I imagine that most, if not all, of these birds will soon fly northward to breed in the Adirondacks or the Canadian north woods.
Let me know what you think. Is this recording pleasurable to listen-to, or do the songs of the white-throats overwhelm? Should I reduce the volume of the nearest white-throats, or leave the recording as-is? I’m quite aware that the pure-tone whistles can easily cause one to cringe, but only if they are too loud.
Also, are the cardinals too prominent? I can’t remove them, but I am able to force the loudest one farther into the distance, using some studio “tricks” (sure sounds convincing, doesn’t it?). Here is the same recording as above, but with the loudest cardinal somewhat tamed:
Same recording as above, but with the loudest cardinal reduced in volume (= pushed more distant). © Lang Elliott.
MORE NOTES: About halfway through (@ 1:40), I hear a single peep! from what I presume to be a migrating thrush … I think Swainson’s Thrush? There was no water nearby, so it’s not the call of a Spring Peeper. Also … Wild Turkeys sound off several times way off in the distance. Do you hear them? And what other birds are sounding off in the background?
today is the first time I have seen these birds and am so surprised. Love hearing their symphony.
I’ve been hearing this mysterious bird for a while now In White Marsh, MD and it’s a joy to know that it’s a White throated sparrow. I live near woods and a marshy area off 95.
Much better with cardinal calls reduced!!! Turkeys sound awesome!!
I think it’s much better with the cardinal sound reduced. I could hear the turkeys. A great recording!
This recording made me cry because I haven’t heard a white throated sparrow sing here where I live in Southern Maine for over six years. The last time I heard one was in the spring six years ago and the bird sang all day and all night and never found its mate. It was the saddest thing that I ever heard. I used to hear them all the time, almost every day here in Maine and at our camp on Pleasant Lake in Casco, Maine but I don’t hear them there anymore either. I would always hear them all summer… Read more »
Sue: Your reply is very moving. I wonder why the sparrows have disappeared from your location? Maybe some drastic habitat changes? I checked Cornell’s website and they do cite information concerning declines, although they list the species as of low conservation concern (I guess because the species is still abundant in many locations. Here’s what they say: “White-throated Sparrows are abundant, but declined over most of their range by about 35% between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. In the U.S. they declined by 63% during that same time period. Partners in Flight estimates a… Read more »
I have a video tape called “Curious Bird Enticer”. Is a replacement video disc available?
Love this! I hear the White-throated sp in Tulsa, OK every spring as they call each other for their flight north after seeing them silently eating seeds all winter. Will listen to this to hear the turkeys, etc. in the background. Thanks for recording and posting these!
You’re welcome Janet and I’m glad you like the recording.
Wonderful All of them.
at 1:46-47 is that a woodpecker? so brief.
Hmmm … sounds more to me like something falling from a tree
Here in Ontario, Burlington actually, we have had white throats for the first time that I can remember. I hope they are still here tomorrow having been away for a couple of days. I have fun whistling back at them. They are a delight! Any thoughts about why they have come here for the first time?
maybe you just missed them before?
Lang, thanks — this is wonderful. Please don’t change anything; it’s just like being in the woods! I always hear them as “old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody,” and these were totally Peabodying away. For the past few days, have had three of them in my garden, which is built on top of a garage in an apartment complex right in Shaker Heights — so THAT is a real treat. They’re whistling away right now, foraging for who knows what in the (still winter-messy) garden. 🙂
Lisle: But who the heck was old Sam Peabody? Does anybody know? I personally prefer “My Sweet Canada … Canada, Canada, Canada”.
Good Morning! I just heard the White-throated Sparrow outside of our house. 7am. He was readily identified since I had listened to your recording a day or so ago. Grand. Thanks! Also, my first whippoorwill of the year was heard last night, off in the woods!
Oh my … I’d love to hear a whip-poor-will. They don’t occur here, but I’ve heard and recorded many during my travels.
I have received clarification! It was a Chuck Will’s Widow that I heard last night, not a whippoorwill. Awesome sound, nevertheless.
Personally, I think chuck-wills sound prettier than whip-poor-wills.
I agree!
is nice to hear that people are still hearing whippoorwills. i haven’t heard one in many years..
I just saw two red breasted grosbeaks this evening at my sunflower feeder. I bet females were close by but I didn’t see them Hope to still see them tomorrow.
Where do you live Carolyn?
Music to my ears. So relaxing to hear and the turkey in the distance is nice.
Thank you for the chorus of White Throats and other feathered friends. I have never heard the White Throats in the Binghamton area, but if I did I would think of the Ariurondacks. I love their piercing and pretty, but lonesome call when it cuts through the fragrent and crisp Arirondack air. Thanks for keeping us close to the natural things.
You’re welcome Tom. We have a few that nest here in the Ithaca area, but most breed in the Adirondacks and places farther north.
Just wonderful Lang! Like the sound of heaven on earth. Reminds me how terribly silent and awful our lives would be without birds. Those cardinals really do steal the show with their robust calls but the white throats sing through. A woodland chorus that is such a joy! (I absolutely loved noticing the turkeys in the background, too… a whole different instrument!) We have a larger than usual flock of white throats here (NH) this spring and I listen to their musical songs throughout the day. Fun to watch scuffing around in the garden, too!
mmmmm … wish I could record the white-throats at your place! I went back this morning to where I made the recording, but there were far fewer in the shrubs. I assume the majority have flown to places farther north.
Amazing! Thanks!
Oh, wonderful!! I love your description, “…like fine whispers of steam escaping…” Delightful as always!
P.S. Love the cardinals, too! We don’t have them on the West coast, so sing away, I say!
Gina: glad to hear you like the cardinals. I do as well, though I was cursing them under my breath at the time I made the recording. I actually went out this morning for another try, but most of the white-throats had left.
Re: “fine whispers of steam escaping” = my feeble attempt at emulating Thoreau.
Sally Bailey would approve. Not too feeble.
Marti: Hmmmm … english teacher at Mexico High? Sure jogs my memory!
Me too.
Loving/missing these sounds. So different from the whipperwill-ish sounds of alligators’ mating calls down here in SW Florida
Beautiful!!!!
Pure delight. Think I heard a turkey too!
Susan: Yes on the turkeys; they sound off several times in the distance.
Those pure tones could never be anything but incredibly inspiring! This is a gift, and good (I do agree that the cardinals could pipe down a bit) as is. I have a bird clock and the 10 o’clock is a white -throat which always stops me in my tracks reminding me of so many things. Not the least of which is that it was my mother’s favorite bird song – she grew up in Ithaca and visited Sapsucker Woods frequently – I hear from this recording and others you have what she probably heard this time of year! Gives me… Read more »
Edie: maybe I’ll try piping down at least the loudest cardinal, but I’m not sure how easy that will be, given limitations of my software.
I keep wishing the Cardinals would leave but interesting to listen to nonetheless. Thanks for this! There are White-throats near where I work but they have only been calling once in a while, catching my attention but then going silent 🙁
This is wonderful and I am so happy to have found your blog! I live on the north shore of Lake Ontario so this post from yesterday tells me that heads up the White Throats are coming. I love it when they arrive here and I love their song. This is beautiful magical recording complete with song birds and turkeys! I am not an expert but I think it is great as it is. So many sounds to identify. Here is a photo of a White Crowned Sparrow in my backyard, they are just passing through here in the spring.… Read more »
Amy: I haven’t seen a White-crowned this season, although they do pass through.
Sorry about that! This is a photo from a couple of years ago! They usually arrived here in Grafton Ontario when the apples are in bloom, just about the same time as the Orioles. I just looked at the date and this photo was taken on May 8.
I love their sweet, haunting song. I love joining with a solo white throated in a call / answer duet, perhaps giving myself too much credit for seemingly speaking their language…..piercing, yes but that’s what they do, brings back good memories of deep woods camping.
I’ll bet they think you’re speaking the same language! The true test is whether or not you get an obvious response … such as a territorial male approaching and clearly concerned.
A little over-whelming, a bit like an orchestra tuning up. Enjoy the cardinal. We only have white-throats in the winter with occasional calls here in northwest Florida.
It is most definitely “an orchestra tuning up”, many of the songs being abridged versions of what will be sung on their breeding grounds.
this is a delight!
There’s a tea drinking Eastern towhee piping in there, clearly at 2:17, 2:25 and so on and there may be two!
Yep, there is! I actually recorded him about a half hour later.
Great White-throats! But a bit overpowered by Cardinals. I just melt when I hear them, as you already know.
I can’t help but wonder if folks are getting automatic notification of replies to their posts. I’m not, but maybe everyone else is? I fear something is wrong with my commenting plugin.
Have you ever recorded the wavery, un-polished songs of “teenaged” white-throats singing in the fall? I love the sound of them learning to sing, getting the melody all messed up. It was the soundtrack to many mornings when I was working at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, where I banded something like 1600 white-throated sparrows over a few seasons.
Charley … no, I haven’t, though I certainly heard that a lot when I lived in the Adirondacks years ago. I’ll put that on my list of “must-do” recording projects.
Glad to see the “subscribe to comments” option is up and running now–and your website seems to remember who I am (at least on this page)!
Charley … but did the notification option work? Did you get a notification that I had replied to your comment?
I did! Except, somehow, I didn’t get a notification of your reply to my reply… I only saw it now because I got a notification of billie’s reply.
well, at least it’s more-or-less working correctly!
Yes, and that reply to my reply to your reply got me a notification, so it seems to be working most of the time.
i love that too, is so dear when you hear them trying it all out
Just shared this with a friend. He said, “Love those bent notes! Definitely the blues guitar of the bird world! That’s when he breaks my heart! So piercingly sweet. So beautiful and sad. Thanks for sharing!” And I say…how very delightful. Thank you so much for all you do.
I like that … “bent notes”.
love that description as bent notes and blues guitar of the bird world.
Please leave your recordings the way they are. No need to fiddle with Nature to ‘please’ humans. If we can’t handle what she provides we should not be on this planet. I think your recordings are wonderful, authentic, and scientific, as well as historic. Who knows how much longer we are able to see and listen to Earth’s creatures. We seem to destroy them as fast as we can.
Andrea: well, I must admit that I’ve already reduced the loudness of some of the white-throat songs because they were so piercing. The reason I do a little “massaging” of my recordings is because the listening experience outdoors is fundamentally different from listening indoors through headphones or speakers. Almost always, folks play recordings much more loudly than the actual level in nature … thus, birds that come close to the mic can jangle the ear. So, based on my experience and feedback from listeners, I may selectively reduce the volume of certain singers to make things more pleasant on this… Read more »
Lang, You and nature’s birds are God’s gift. Do not change one moment on this. It is spiritually perfect. The nurses I work with around the country and their patients also love your work. Please do not stop or change.
Thank you,
Ann McCaughan
but … but … change just happens, no matter what (just joking).
i was just yesterday thinking of asking if you ever did a recording of these little guys. they make me smile all winter long, and i am always sad to see them go. their song seems so earnest, and has that minor effect to it that makes it a little sad and sweet at same time. they are one of my favorites.
: >) oh yes, I’ve recorded many white-throated songsters, but I only have a few examples of migratory flocks sounding off, such as this one, which I think is my best so far. At some point I’ll share a wonderful recording from the Adirondacks made by my good friend Ted Mack. It features a whole bunch of male white-throats, on territory, and singing at dawn. The difference is that migratory birds often sing partial songs, while territorial birds sing full-length songs almost exclusively.
I so love your posts, Lang and this has to be one of the more special bird song recordings ever made. The White-throat quartet is absolutely as you say – poetry of sound, tonic for the ear! I love the interplay with other songsters: it’s an impromptu jam session – reminds me a little of those drumming circles one occasionally stumbles upon in a rural village square or urban park – amateur and professional coming together for a moment of shared inspired pleasure. Good fortune, indeed; you were richly rewarded for your early morning disciplined effort and we are the… Read more »
Dolores: I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend time in nature, receptive to such blessings. Even more-so, I feel deeply blessed and even honored to be able to share the result with other appreciating minds and hearts.
well put
I love the sound of white-throated sparrows. They make me think of being in the mountains of New Hampshire. Sometimes it is the only bird singing at 3,000 feet.
Yes, they’re common at high elevations, along with winter wren, swainson’s thrush, blackpoll warbler, and bicknell’s thrush if you’re really lucky.
Beautiful, Lang. My high frequency hearing loss kept the white throats song way in the background of the cardinals. But awesome none the less. A keeper!
John: Have you considered hearing those high-pithchers again by using a SongFinder bird song listening device (which I used to hear the white-throats this morning)? It takes the high frequency bird sounds and lowers them into a range where one’s hearing is better:
http://hearbirdsagain.com
El sonido es interesante para hacer una canción de ornitomúsica electrónica,en decrescendo,buen trabajo Lang.
You’re welcome senén!
The white-throated sparrow-northern cardinal symphony is perfect, but I kept waiting for the turkey to chime in again, and again, and it didn’t disappoint. Another winner, Lang.
Nancy: When it comes to recordings, I love winners! But when it comes to politics, I’m not so sure …
This is just beautiful. I heard a turkey a few times. He just adds to the symphony of calls. I so look forward to your posts. I share the recordings with my students as I am always encouraging them to get outside and enjoy the woods and fields near them.
Wendy: yep … turkeys in the distance, sounding off several times.
Love this recording! It is perfect! I heard the white-throats this morning around 6:30 AM. There was frost on the ground, and a snow flurry last night. “Welcome to Downeast Maine!”
maybe I’ll change the text to include mention that it was a frosty morning!
I thought it was perfect. I felt as if I was there with you, listening too.
Carlene: That’s good to hear, for sure! Because I am high frequency deaf and rely on a special device to hear the whistles of White-throats and other high-pitch singers, I’m never sure how folks with normal hearing will respond. The fact is: I already lowered the loudest singers somewhat (about 8 decibels), to make the recording more palatable to the ears.
Oh, the White Throats! They express these clear, cool, anticipating, anticipating spring days so perfectly with their song! I can’t wait to listen to your recording when I get home tonight!
~Susan Fay
can’t wait to hear what you think!
I was up early too & there was a thick coat of FROST on the grass & tree limbs 🙁
Thank you Lang for the White -throats cheer, it brightened my day 🙂
Rose Ann: It was below freezing when I made this recording, with plenty of frost covering a nearby meadow. I had forgotten to put on my gloves and my hands got so cold that I had to hustle back to my car to heat them up, before heading off to look for other opportunities (which unfortunately didn’t materialize this morning).
This makes my heart sing…thanks so much, Lang!