Anybody read music and can help identify this bird call (Germany)? (1 Viewer)

[McHeath]

I got rudely awakened this morning by a bird singing loudly outside my window, and I don't know what it is. As I was getting up it seemed to be changing its location occasionally, so not a captive bird. By the time I got outside it had stopped.
There were two variants (see photo); #1 was the main one and was sometimes extended to maybe 20 repetitions of the motif without pausing. #2 came a few times.
The notes were very clear and exact, no slurring or altering of pitch or tempo, so I was able to notate them 1:1. The quality and volume of the notes was strong, maybe comparable to that of a Songthrush in full swing.
Location: small village among meadows and woods, close to a river, near Bad Hersfeld in Hessen, central Germany.
Do any fellow musicians have any idea what this could have been?

 

[lou salomon]

maybe song of a Great Tit. similar to this: XC645694 Great Tit (Parus major)

 

[McHeath]

Thank you Lou, but no; the rhythm and tempo would have been spot on, but it was too loud and full-bodied. I've also never heard a Great Tit sing at an interval greater than a fourth, and this candidate had a definite preference for the minor seventh!

 

[lou salomon]

o yes, there is an incredible variance in Great Tit song, even using the mentioned 'septime'. can't think of any other bird song coming close. at that frequency it often is hard to discern the right tone in the higher (first tone in your example) one.

 

[McHeath]

maybe song of a Great Tit. similar to this: XC645694 Great Tit (Parus major)

PS I hadn't listened to your example when I wrote the above and have now remedied that; the Great Tit here is much faster and higher pitched, and my bird was singing in exact triplets (which Great Tits sometimes also do). But thanks again!

 

[McHeath]

o yes, there is an incredible variance in Great Tit song, even using the mentioned 'septime'. can't think of any other bird song coming close. at that frequency it often is hard to discern the right tone in the higher (first tone in your example) one.

That's the thing - both notes were very exactly pitched and melodious, with none of the Tit's slight scratchiness.

 

[Butty]

But, as Lou has indicated, great tit's vocabulary is huge and varied...

 

[McHeath]

But, as Lou has indicated, great tit's vocabulary is huge and varied...

You're right - many's the time I've been fooled into thinking I'm hearing something new, only to see the culprit and think: not again. But I've heard them every day, in many regions of Germany, I know their calls, and I'm sticking with it: it wasn't a Great Tit. I checked the sonograms on fssbirding, and a Great Tit never produces a musical tone under 2kHz; my candidate was producing exactly 4 very clear notes from ca. 780-1400Hz. I've mailed Fraser at the site; maybe he'll have a suggestion.

 

[jogresh]

Doubt Great Tits would be singing now (calling, yes) as they're single-brooded and chicks have already fledged a while ago. I've not heard one singing for a while now in my day job as a bird surveyor, mostly Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Dunnocks, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, pipits, Skylark, plus all the warblers still at it of course. Sorry can't help with the sheet music, I'd suggest sticking your phone out the window and recording it if you hear it again.

 

[Butty]

I know their calls, and I'm sticking with it: it wasn't a Great Tit

I think this is the point I was making... No-one knows their calls - there's too many. If I read it aright, that site give 12 recordings of great tit - which is just a tiny fraction of their vocabulary.