Shorebird calls IV : Tringa, Dowitchers, Godwits and other shorebirds

The commonly heard flight call of the Greater Yellowlegs is usually repeated three times (May, NJ).









When excited the call may be repeated in longer sequences (Mar, NJ).





The same call of the Lesser Yellowlegs is usually repeated only twice and is higher (Mar, NJ).










(May, NJ).










Alarm call of Greater Yellowlegs (Apr, NJ).











Greater Yellowlegs, alarm and flight calls, and portions of yodelling song at 26s and 61s (Apr, NJ).




Alarm call of Lesser Yellowlegs (May, DE).










Lesser Yellowlegs alarm calls in flight, breeding grounds (June, AK).











Threat calls in face-off between two Lesser Yellowlegs (Apr, DE).









Threat calls by two Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper (Aug, NJ).

Solitary Sandpiper higher calls to right









Spotted Sandpiper alarm call (Sep, ME).













The Solitary Sandpiper flight call is very similar but slightly higher (Apr, DE).












Nocturnal flight call (90 mins before sunrise, Sep, PA).













Alarm call, a metallic vocalization (Aug, NJ).












Solitary Sandpiper threat call, a rapid trill-like call (Aug, NJ).











Willet flight call (with Greater Yellowlegs, Aug, NJ).












Willet alarm call, uttered singly (breeding grounds, May, DE)











Another alarm call, this one constantly repeated by an agitated bird (July, NJ).











Willet quiet calls between pair (May, DE)











Willet song (May, DE)

reduced time scale










Short-billed Dowitchers are talkative while feeding, but these calls do not carry far, giving rise to the reputation that they are quiet while feeding. A parabola picks up these quiet calls, which are very similar to those of Semipalmated Sandpipers. I am confident that these were made by dowitchers as no other species were nearby. The calls average lower than those of Semipalmated Sandpipers, and are usually single-peaked, whereas many calls of Semipalmated are double-peaked. (May, NJ).











Semipalmated Sandpiper feeding calls for comparison (June, NJ).












Short-billed Dowitchers give a rapidly repeated tu-tu or tu-tu-tu, also heard in flight, faster than the calls of yellowlegs. The calls at the time of take-off (at 7s) are different and can be confused with the calls of Long-billed Dowitchers (May, NJ).











calls at time of taking flight (Willet in background)









Long-billed Dowitcher call, an Alder Flycatcher-like peek (July, NJ).












A poor recording of the rapidly repeated call, with Short-billed Dowitchers calling (July, NJ).

calls at 7 kHz












Short-billed Dowitcher song (migrant, May, NJ).

time scale reduced








Another snippet of song from a dowitcher, most likely a Short-billed Dowitcher (July, NJ).


Ruddy Turnstone in flight, similar call to Short-billed Dowitcher but lower (Aug, MA).












American Oystercatcher pipng calls (pair, breeding grounds, Aug, MA).













Black-necked Stilt pair in flight (Apr, DE).












Upland Sandpiper flight call (perched bird, breeding grounds, July, ME).











Upland Sandpiper alarm call (tattler call, BNA) (breeding grounds, July, ME).












Marbled Godwit (breeding grounds, May, ND).



















Bar-tailed Godwit calls in flight, breeding grounds (June, AK).












Red-necked Phalarope contact call beside a pond (June, AK).