Night call near Paris (1 Viewer)

[Stéphane 77]

Three nights in a row I heard this strange call in our small town east of Paris, France.
I can't identify this species, it seems so different from usual French night birds.
The best species I can imagine is Little Owl but it does not really fit.
It could be an escaped cage bird, I already had Crimson Rosella and Rosy-faced Lovebird in my garden in the last years.
Any idea ?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Stéphane,

main reason for my comment is to bump your interesting recording up.

And to ask for a longer recording with some time before and after the call, please? It often places a single call in the context, which helps (please see other threads here). Thanks!

Like you, I am puzzled but my thoughts:

• the quality of a thin whisteling (like a throaty bird without enough breath) gives this bird a vague reminiscent of a Blackbird
• there are examples here on BF with aberrant Blackbirds, they can imitate artifical sounds. And I am surely biased by this. And this become a favourite for me. So cute!

• But a single, constant call without variation or added longer phrases seems unusual/strange for a Blackbird imo.
• I cant exclude a human whisteling (no offence you know, but this has to be always considerd)

 

[Stéphane 77]

Sorry for the late answer Alexander.
I just kept 1 or 2 seconds before and after each recording.
They were all recorded at night. I often have magpies or robins calling at 2 or 4 in the morning but I never had blackbirds.
I agree human whistling can't be completely excluded but I recorded the same sounds a few kms apart which would fit with a flying bird rather than a human, IMHO.
Unfortunately I didn't have this call in the following nights (but ortolan bunting, tawny pipit and little bittern amongst others) so this will remain a mystery call.