Guide to Bird Sounds

National Geographic Society - Guide to Bird Sounds

released in 1983 on 4 10" flexidisc records (Eva-Tone Soundsheets)

Just as we delight to hear the familiar voice of a friend, our pleasure in hearing an unseen bird increases when we recognize its song. We listen and learn that a Mockingbird is establishing its territory nearby, that Tundra Swans are passing overhead, that the Summer Tanagers have returned from their southern winter. Songs and calls betray the location of shy or nocturnal species that we might otherwise miss, and confirm the identity of a bird seen only fleetingly. And for a few look-alikes, voice is our only means for positive identification in the field.
These recordings include the sounds of 179 species - not always the most beautiful sounds, nor those most often heard, but the sounds that are most helpful in finding and identifying elusive or confusing species.
Birds sing primarily to announce that a territory is claimed and a mate sought. That is why we hear more singing in the nesting season than at other times of the year. In most cases, only the male sings.
But the pleasant, melodious sounds we call "songs" are only one form of bird language. At any season we can hear the brief, simple calls used by both males and females to maintain contact and to convey alarm, distress, and feeding information. Often it is a call, rather than a song, that identifies a species. The adult American Crow and Fish Crow are virtually identical in appearance. Observers distinguish them in the field by their different calls. You will hear these and other distinctive sounds on these records.
You will also hear some very unmusical "songs" - the hooting of owls, the grating cries of terns, the clapping and clicking of rails. And you will hear some signals that are not made by voice at all, like the dramatic wing drumming of the Ruffed Grouse.
Time spent at home in becoming familiar with the bird sounds on these records will be well rewarded in the field. Expert birders find that they depend on voice as much as plumage in identifying birds. The variety of bird sounds is impressive - and perhaps daunting. Learn a few at a time, beginning with species you often see and hear.
You may find it easier to remember a song in words that imitate its sounds and cadence. Most listeners agree, for example, that the American Robin's varied phrases sound like cheerily cheerio cheerup. You will find many such verbalizations in the National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America. (from the liner notes)

Tracklisting:

Record 1

Side A

1. Western Grebe, Tundra Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose {2:40}

2. King Rail, Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, Yellow Rail, Black Rail {2:32}

3. Semipalmated Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Lesser Golden-Plover, Greater Golden-Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs {2:52}

4. Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone {2:33}

Side B

1. Sanderling, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper {2:15}

2. Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Forster's Tern, Roseate Tern, Royal Tern, Caspian Tern {2:28}

3. Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-winged Hawk {1:22}

4. Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Blue Grouse, Montezuma Quail, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Mountain Quail {4:08}

Record 2

Side A

1. Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mangrove Cuckoo {1:27}

2. Long-eared Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Spotted Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Flammulated Owl {4:15}

3. Elf Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Boreal Owl {1:52}

4. Chuck-will's-widow, Whip-poor-will, Buff-collared Nightjar, Common Poorwill, Common Pauraque, Common Nighthawk, Antillean Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk {3:01}

Side B

1. Broad-billed Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird {2:26}

2. Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Nuttail's Woodpecker {1:58}

3. Cassin's Kingbird, Couch's Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird {1:31}

4. Great Crested flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Gray Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher {4:46}

Record 3

Side A

1. Least Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet {3:56}

2. Scrub Jay, Gray-breasted Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Mexican Crow, Chihuahuan Raven, Common Raven {2:49}

3. Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Siberian Tit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch {4:13}

Side B

1. Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, Canyon Wren {1:35}

2. Arctic Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher {1:36}

3. Wood Thrush, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin {3:12}

4. Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bendire's Thrasher, California Thrasher, Crissal Thrasher, Water Pipit, Sprague's Pipit {4:13}

Record 4

Side A

1. Black-capped Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Bell's Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Gray Vireo, Solitary Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo {4:59}

2. Bachman's Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush {3:17}

3. Brown Towhee, Abert's Towhee, Grasshopper Sparrow, Baird's Sparrow {2:35}

Side B

1. Bachman's Sparrow, Botteri's Sparrow, Cassin's Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, McCown's Longspur, Smith's Longspur, Lapland Longspur {3:36}

2. Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird {2:04}

3. Scott's Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Hepatic Tanager {2:56}

4. Red Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Purple Finch, Cassin's Finch, House Finch {2:03}

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