California- Sutter county- Apr. 21; Strange bird seen and heard. (1 Viewer)

[Avian-Avalanche!]

This bird was very dark, I think possibly black or very very dark reddish brown. I attached a sketch I made from memory, as I did not have the ability to take a pic, as it was too far away and I only say it with my binoculars…

 

[Avian-Avalanche!]

And I tried to use Merlin- but it wouldn’t identify the bird… I have attached a screen recording of the spectrogram here through! I am not sure if the bird I SAW and the bird heard here are the same however, but I am sure I heard the sketched out bird making this sound!

 

[THE_FERN]

Perhaps brown-headed cowbird or female red-winged blackbird. European starling also catches people out, especially younger birds

 

[Avian-Avalanche!]

Perhaps brown-headed cowbird or female red-winged blackbird. European starling also catches people out, especially younger birds

Ah! It could be, I thought possibly a starling but usually the starlings in my area never make such sounds! And, the cowbird and blackbird theories could work too! I’ll have to see if I see them more today… thank you! (and sorry for any wasted time!)

 

[Thijsdekruif]

Ah! It could be, I thought possibly a starling but usually the starlings in my area never make such sounds! And, the cowbird and blackbird theories could work too! I’ll have to see if I see them more today… thank you! (and sorry for any wasted time!)

Starlings are excellent imitators. They confuse me so often. So do expect sound you never heard from them.

 

[Avian-Avalanche!]

Starlings are excellent imitators. They confuse me so often. So do expect sound you never heard from them.

Yup! Typically I hear the starlings here making their usual song, sometimes with strange arpeggios mixed in too!