Listening to a Continent Sing

the companion website to the book by Donald Kroodsma

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD MT-281

Big Hole National Battlefield, Wisdom, Montana

June 6, 9:00 a.m.

Sunrise at 5:45 a.m.

Download the Recording

Thirteen songs, punctuated by a complex flight whistle when he departs.

Try to follow along with his four different songs, given in the following sequence:

A B A B C B C B A B B C D

Using Raven-lite, I listen to him at slowed speeds, taking him down to one-fifth normal speed, then one-tenth, reveling in the details of what he does so quickly. I smile. This is no bird to detest; these are songs to admire. Very nice!!

Background

Yellow warbler, song sparrow, northern waterthrush, the North Fork of the Big Hole River

bhco-22

Photo by Brian L. Sullivan