'telephone bird'

[Carol Probets <>]

Hi Ian and all,

I agree with Pete Cowper about the Blackbird. At least some individuals have a short component of their song which sounds just like a phone! There used to be one calling regularly in my street (in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains) and whenever I was out in the garden it would fool me, just for an instant, every time. I've heard people make the assumption this is mimicry but I'm not so sure, I'm inclined to think it's just a natural part of their song.

cheers,

Carol

At 7:25 AM +0300 21/4/07, Peter Cowper wrote:

> While I was living in Flynn, there were a
> number of birds that made these calls. I found them to be Common
> Blackbirds. Very annoying to be fooled by a bird into thinking the
> phone was actually ringing. It got me at least once a year, every
> year
>  
> Cheers,
>  
> Pete Cowper

> > > On 4/21/07, Ian Fraser <> wrote:
> > > > I've just been asked, not for the first time, for the
> > > > identity of a
> > > > spring-calling suburban bird which sounds like a telephone ringing.
> > > > (I
> > > > assume it resembles an old-fashioned telephone which actually
> > > > sounds
> > > > like a phone!) An obvious response would be Red-capped Robin, but
> > > > not
> > > > likely in suburbia. It is usually said to be 'elusive'. I can't come
> > > > up
> > > > with a very convincing answer; any (sensible!) suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > thanks!
> > > > Ian

-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carol Probets
Guided birding in the Blue Mountains & Capertee Valley
PO Box 330
Katoomba NSW 2780
Web: http://www.bmbirding.com.au
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