Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

Which bird song(s) depict the seasons for you?

For me in Autumn - the cries of the Golden Plovers flying over the fields, the Fieldfares & the Redwings always remind me that the weather is getting colder & the first sublime song of the Robin.

In Winter - it would have to be the Song Thrush, as last Christmas morning I was woken up around 6am to a thrush giving it his all on the telegraph wire outside my bedroom window - such a treat! That was my best Christmas present last year!

In Spring - the Blackbird wins hands down, followed closely by the Skylark & the first melodic notes of the Chaffinch.

In Summer - It has to be the Wood Pigeon, which always reminds me of long, lazy, hot Summer days - a true soundtrack of high Summer, plus the Goldfinches singing sweetly on the telegraph wires. Bliss.

I am going to do the OT based in the Pacific Northwest US birds .

Spring--Red-winged Blackbird males singing in the local wetlands, and American Robins everywhere (American Robins are big thrushes, very similar to UK Blackbirds, and Red-Winged Blackbirds have no UK equivalent).
Summer--American Goldfinches and their tseet song.
Autumn--no real distinct song, although this is the time of year when gulls move slightly in from the coast, and we can hear them crying overhead.
Winter--Varied Thrush. An unearthly double whistle.

Kingfisher

This is intriguing, how exactly do you go about learning which song is coming from which bird?
I am a complete rookie when it comes to bird watching or labelling!

I have 'old-fashioned' CDs with the North American birdsongs. Nowadays I am sure that you can download the various songs into an MP3 or iPod. In fact, if you visit the website I list below, you will see that you can purchase the National Geographic Handheld Birds For PDAs, and a host of other gadgets.

Sometimes the song is the only way to determine the bird (Marsh Tits versus Willow Tits), and sometimes the song is the only way you even know the bird is there!

I cheat, and use this site to listen to bird songs. I don't know if there is a UK equivalent to this North American site, although a number of birds occur in both North America and the UK.

Kingfisher

Wood pidgeons are the ones that really remind me of summer too. They seem to be constantly singing through the summer months and stand out from other background noise as they are so distinctive.

Robins signifying the onset of Autumn on crisp early mornings! Very poetic.

Song thrush for me

Spring - Chaffinch and Great tit or Blue tit!!

Summer - Skylark

Autumn - Fieldfare and Redwing

Winter - Robin

And summer evenings - Nightjars!!

What do they sound like then Paul?

Summerish Would be the Curlew for me and Lapwing. Can't really think of any for the other seasons.


Chris.

Sorry Paul if i'm intruding.

Hear's a link to a recording for Nightjar.

Nightjar.

Just realised they sound more like Frogs in a Rainforest

Chris.

Oh yes! So they do. Good find Chris!