![]() ![]() Lazuli Buntings, for instance, employ at least 140 different “syllables” in their songs, and no two birds put these together in the same way. Not only are they structurally intricate, but they also exhibit mind-boggling variation both within species and individuals. One is that birdsongs (by which I also include calls) are incredibly complex. I asked myself, “Could any of them remove a key barrier to my own growth as a birder?”įor now, at least, the answer is no - and for two reasons. When I began evaluating field identification apps for this review, I was not only curious about what they could do. In a previous article, I reviewed field guide and listing apps, while here I look at apps that help birders learn and identify birdsongs. ![]() As my visual skills increased, however, I realized with dismay that my hearing handicap threatened to limit my ability to pursue my favorite activity permanently. For a while, as I focused on identifying birds by sight, this loss proved mostly an annoyance. Shortly after I began birding about six years ago, my hearing took a swift, dramatic plunge, and I lost many of the higher frequencies utilized by songbirds. For non-scientists, well, learning and identifying bird sounds marks nothing less than the Great Divide between proficiency and expertise.įor me and many others, the ability to identify birdsong carries an added significance. For scientists, being able to identify species automatically by call with the aid of remote microphones and computers has become a holy grail for expanding human understanding of bird populations, behavior, and conservation. ![]() In the past few years, the study of birdsong has witnessed an incredible explosion of interest by both scientists and birders. WESTERN MEADOWLARK: Males of this species develop a repertoire of about 10-12 songs that include warbles and gurgling whistles. ![]()
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