Listening to a Continent Sing

The daytime singing of a black-and-white warbler. It's a high, thin, piercing song of see-sawing couplets, two notes alternated here seven to eight times. Weesee-weesee-weesee-weesee-weesee-weesee-weesee he sings, with a strong accent on the wee, the see higher and softer. Or perhaps you hear squeaky-squeaky-squeaky-squeaky-squeaky-squeaky-squeaky, much like rubbing a wet rag over glass. Whatever mnemonic you use, it's a distinctive song.

You can hear his more complex dawn song in VA-74

Background

Ovenbirds (2), red-eyed vireo, chipping sparrow, and a few flies.

Photo by Wil Hershberger