Spring songbird primer

Cardinal.

During a recent Saturday, Peninsula State Park naturalist Kathleen Harris presented what might be the most uplifting program to come across on a cold February afternoon: a spring bird song primer.

With the first day of spring just three weeks away, there is no better time than now to learn the sounds of the season from nature’s musicians – birds.

Cardinal

The bird that has lent a vibrant splash of color to snowy backyards is one of the first to belt out its tunes on spring mornings. Listen for loud strings of two-part whistles that end in a slow trill. They often sound like they are singing “cheer, cheer, cheer,” or “birdie, birdie, birdie.”

Wood Thrush

The song of the Wood Thrush is easily recognized, with the mainstay of its flute-like three-part song being “ee-oh-lay” and ending with a fast vibration of trills. It is said that a male Wood Thrush can sing more than 50 different songs.

Winter Wren

Don’t let the name fool you – the winter wren has what The Cornell Lab of Ornithology calls an “incomparably energetic” voice. Listen for a continuous stream of fast, high-pitched melodious notes and trills.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler’s appearance is the epitome of the winter-to-spring transition, with a full coat of charcoal and black and some very noticeable spots of bright yellow and bold white feathers peaking through. Listen for an even-pitched sweet trill that speeds up as it ends.

American Robin.

American Robin

Is there a better indication of spring than the familiar song of the American Robin? The best way to describe this “cheery” song is a series of steady, clear whistles (rising and falling in pitch) often described as “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up.”

It’s a good reminder to cheer up – spring is on its way. To hear these songs in audio version, visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website, AllAboutBirds.org/guide.