Tanagers, Buntings and Grosbeaks: flight calls

The flight call of the Indigo Bunting is a fine buzz, and is commonly heard in the fall from foraging birds hidden by vegetation (Oct, NJ).













It is longer than the short buzzy calls of warblers, and lower than the call of the Swamp Sparrow (see Warbler calls II : flight calls for comparison of the three calls).


Presumed Indigo Bunting nocturnal flight call (1.24am, Oct, PA)














The Dickcissel flight call has the lowest buzz (Blue Grosbeak is in between Indigo and Dickcissel). This bird was in flight at Supawna Meadows NWR, NJ in November (with Carolina Wren calling).












Dickcissel in flight at night (Aug, PA).














The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is quite vocal during nocturnal migration, having a variety of flight calls, some of which sound like the nocturnal calls of thrushes, see Thrush calls I : flight calls. They call mostly earlier in the night, whereas thrushes call throughout with an increase towards sunrise. The calls are quite variable. There are three main categories, off-key whistles (which can sound like Swainson's or Hermit Thrush), distinctive hoarse calls, and buzzy calls (which sound similar to Wood Thrush, and are presumptive: they have apparently never been confirmed by birds calling during the day). All nocturnal calls are presumed identifications.

This recording was made 55 minutes before dawn, and features whistles and hoarse calls of Rose-breasted Grosbeak; note that the call at 3s is a presumed Swainson's Thrush (end of Sep, PA).






















Whistle and hoarse call (90 mins before sunrise, Sep, PA).




Hoarse call and whistle after sunset (8.00pm, Sep, ME)























(5.30am, Sep, PA)










Whistle, which could be confused with Swainson's Thrush (2.47am, Sep, PA)












Hoarse call (1.05am, Sep, PA)












(11.25pm, Sep, PA)













This call is Hermit Thrush-like (1.30am, Sep, PA)











Short call (1.01am, Sep, PA)











More presumed Rose-breasted Grosbeak calls (Sept, PA):

5.05am











3.03am












12.55am
























Rose-breasted Grosbeak buzzy call (9.21pm, early Oct, PA). It sounds lazier than the finer buzz of the Wood Thrush, but the calls are similar. Note that this call is very unusual in that it has never been confirmed by a sight recording during the day, and is a call presumed to be made by migrating Rose-breasted Grosbeaks based on its association with other known calls (Evans and O'Brien).













Another presumed Rose-breasted Grosbeak buzzy call (10.59pm, early Oct, PA)













Calls by perched birds shortly after dawn (Sep, NJ). Calls often sound "off-key". Similar calls by Swainson's Thrushes tend to rise, and may have a burriness.























The Scarlet Tanager flight call is a clear chu-wee (perched bird, with White-breasted Nuthatch and Golden-crowned Kinglet, Oct, PA).













The flight call seems to be less frequently heard at night than those of the thrushes (11.06pm, early Oct, PA)