The first time we ever saw and heard Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, we
thought it made an extraordinary sound - almost a squelching sound.
They were sailing around us at Canberra Botanic Garden in its very early
days. I now describe its call as a 'Cheee-urk'. Better spoken than
written - it needs a dropping tone on the first syllable.
Around Melbourne I believe them to be partial migrants - I think one of
its old names is Summer Bird. In spring I have seen them in what I
believe to be slow circling display flights, with much calling and
exaggerated wing-shuffles on landing. I don't think I have ever seen
this described.
By far the best way to distinguish the calls of Pied and Grey Currawongs
is to remember that Pied says "Come on Geelong!' I agree that human
phrases are not ideal - but they are at least memorable.
Anthea Fleming
On 18/05/2018 10:35 AM, Graeme Chapman wrote:
Try to describe the call of a Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike. I did once in my book
"Common City Birds". When I read it now I think it's awful!
The bird call descriptions in the field guides are so subjective. That's why we
have the apps.
According to my stats page, about a third of the visits to my website are
people listening to the sound.
Unfortunately, unaided , iPods and phones don't reproduce the very low or very
high frequencies very well - you need to use earphones or a good quality
speaker.
For most people, particularly males, what you hear is age related. I can only
hear now up to about 6 kHz. So much for grasswrens!
With human speech, I have difficulty with people who gabble - speak really fast
- I hear them OK but maybe the processor in my brain is also getting old.
Anybody know where to have neurons renovated??
Graeme Chapman
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