Icy Strait, Alaska (1 Viewer)

[delia todd]

A friend has just messaged me from Icy Strait, where they went for a walk. She recorded a song on her phone and uploaded it to an ID app (don't know which one).

They came up with these four species:

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Townsend's Warbler

She hasn't sent me the recording (not that I'd know how to handle it to download here. There's a small bit showing a sonogram (I could copy that over if you think it would help).

Can any of them be eliminated, or any more likely? I know it's a long shot!

 

[01101001]

There is nothing to go on here save for the location--I don't think it was intended as such.

 

[delia todd]

No, LOL... just thought I'd surprise her of my cleverness if any could be eliminated!!

 

[nartreb]

None of those can be eliminated based on location.

 

[delia todd]

OK thanks Nartreb.... so I won't be looking clever, after all LOL

 

[Joe H]

My Armstrong guide to Alaska lists the Townsend Solitaire as rare in southeast Alaska in spring, the other three species are common. The calls of the three common birds are distinctly different. You might still be able to make an ID. The kinglets almost always call from the top of a spruce tree or other conifer up here in my experience, and they tend to call a lot without relocating. Chickadees tend to move about more and aren’t as likely to take a tree top perch, though they do often enough. The wren I would expect to call from the ground. Maybe you can try to see if your friends can tell from what elevation the call came.

 

[delia todd]

Thanks so much for that Joe. I'll ask her.

Ah! It was a Townsend's Warbler, not T. Solitaire - just had to go check LOL. Does that make a difference?

 

[Joe H]

Oops, my bad - Townsend's Warbler is also common in Alaska's southeast in spring. So, another possibility to sift through.

 

[nartreb]

Two completely different birds. The warbler is listed as "fairly common" in my book. In its summer range it tends to be found at the tops of conifers -- which doesn't help much vs the kinglet or chickadee.

 

[connorco]

Might as well share the sonogram. Maybe we could get the ID of at least one bird.

 

[delia todd]

Don't know if it's any use at all... looks even worse to me this morning through sleep-deprived eyes!