Bird that makes a wolf whistle? (1 Viewer)

[newfie ghost]

I'm in central NJ and I've heard this bird in my back yard and also in the woods. It's song sounds like a very realistic wolf whistle or a catcall. First note up then second note down. Any ideas guys?

 

[Bird_Enthusiast]

If it sounds like a cat it most likely is a catbird.
They're notorious for their whining-like calls.

 

[Steve Schoech]

Do you hear it in the evening or dawn and dusk? About the only thing that comes to mind as approximating a wolf whistle (a note that slides up and then back down) is a Whip-poor-will (and that's with the 2nd part of their song not being heard clearly).

I think Bird Enthusiast misunderstood your use of "catcall"

 

[AlfArbuthnot]

Starling? They start their song with a very cheeky-sounding wolf-whistle.

 

[Frozen-in-MN]

I always thought an Upland Sandpiper call sounds like a "wolf whistle". Never been to New Jersey, but it seems like it's more a grassland bird.

 

[Parula6]

Starlings do a wolf whistle frequently.

 

[dantheman]

Don't know how suburban you are but escaped Mynahs/Parrots can give very realistic wolf whistles

 

[lulubelle]

My vote is for the Upland Sandpiper - flight calls really sound like a wolf whistle to me!!

 

[newfie ghost]

Do you hear it in the evening or dawn and dusk? About the only thing that comes to mind as approximating a wolf whistle (a note that slides up and then back down) is a Whip-poor-will (and that's with the 2nd part of their song not being heard clearly).

I think Bird Enthusiast misunderstood your use of "catcall"

I heard it about 9am. We were at Crystal Lake if anyone is familiar with it, but I've also heard it in my back yard in suburbia!

Yes, I don't mean "meow".

 

[newfie ghost]

My vote is for the Upland Sandpiper - flight calls really sound like a wolf whistle to me!!

Wow, that really does sound like a wolf whistle :t:
Maybe that's it, thanks!

 

[Chrissy G1981]

Steve Schoech

I have been looking for this answer for so long. The bird you thought of sounds just like the one I was looking for. But the bird I hear whistles 2 notes just like the wolf/cat call. it's possible it could be the same bird that you suggested. :t:

 

[Birdbrain22]

Wow, that really does sound like a wolf whistle :t:
Maybe that's it, thanks!

Upland Sandpiper is not really a common bird for NJ... extremely localized, so I doubt that it is it.

Being you heard it in your backyard as well as the Crystal lake park, I would say European Starling is the most likely candidate. Another possibility is Northern Mockingbird.

 

[Nutcracker]

I'm in central NJ and I've heard this bird in my back yard and also in the woods. It's song sounds like a very realistic wolf whistle or a catcall. First note up then second note down. Any ideas guys?

Upland Sandpiper is not really a common bird for NJ... extremely localized, so I doubt that it is it.

Being you heard it in your backyard as well as the Crystal lake park, I would say European Starling is the most likely candidate. Another possibility is Northern Mockingbird.

Agree; also Upland Sandpiper is very definitely NOT a back yard nor a woodland bird. Wide, open, treeless plains for them!

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

How about black-capped chickadee?

 

[tril42]

European Starling would be my guess.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Seem to recall (from a trip to Ecuador over 25 years back) that the Barred Puffbird has an albeit slo mo wolf whistle call. Easily imitated to a sufficient standard to call the bird in. Obviously not all that likely in central NJ, just thought I'd mention it, this being BF, and liable to wander off topic a little from time to time and all...

 

[SharkNose]

Sorry for the bump, but I think I ID'd the wolf-whistle bird. I got a good look at it in my binoculars this morning (Burlington County, NJ) and it's a Tufted Titmouse. It was making a whit-whew song for a while as it jumped around in the tops of the trees, but then broke into it's familiar peter-peter-peter song.

A similar sounding bird is the Black-capped Chickadee. I used to call it the "Nelson Bird" before I knew what was making a HA-ha song. It sounds just like Nelson Munce on "The Simpsons" when he laughs at someone, "HA, ha!"