Larks and Pipits

Horned Larks have a variety of calls which include chi-dit, seerp/tseep, and buzzy calls. They are used on the ground and as flight calls.
The following recordings were made of wintering birds in Lancaster County, PA in February.

Chi-dit calls are highly variable, each call usually being different from those preceding or following, indicating a large repertoire.
































Another example of chi-dit calls. Some of the lower calls of American Pipits can sound similar.
































Interestingly chi-dit calls appear to be a component of the Horned Lark song.






























The next category of calls are the seerp/tseeps, which vary in length, can be modulated, may be multi-syllabic, and are mostly descending.
seerp











see-der (first two calls).











see-yer-dip











Two tseeps followed by seerps.

tseep









modulated seerp








seerp










Call by a bird taking flight.













Buzzy call (first call, followed by chi-dit and seerp).












Calls in flight by a disturbed flock of about 30 birds. Mostly chi-dit and buzzy calls.




















Two birds displaying face to face, and then fighting in mid-air at 47-60 sec.


Edited sonagrams of the chi-dit calls in this recording, showing the variety and frequent repetition of the notes, indicating a large but finite repertoire (time scale reduced).
















































































American Pipit in flight (Nov, NJ).











American Pipit song flight. The song consists of the same repeated elements that speed up as the bird descends to the ground (July, CO).









time scale reduced