Unknown Bird in Neighbourhood

by Susanne
(Ontario, Canada)

Hi - I was wondering if someone could identify a bird that is in our neighbourhood and is stumping all of us.

It has a loud call, i.e. three short calls like a referee's whistle and then a "laughing" trail off.

It is medium size and brown - no distinguishable markings that we can see.

It never gets close to us i.e. on the ground, etc., and we only see it high in the trees and flying overhead.

We don't hear it in the winter, only spring - summer time and our neighbourhood is located in Angus, Ontario and backs onto a forest and river.

Nobody seems to know what it is!!

I don't have a photo because it always flies off if you get close to the tree it is perched in.

Comments for Unknown Bird in Neighbourhood

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starstarstarstarstar 		Brown Thrasher
by: Anonymous

My guess is a Brown Thrasher ..... they are similar to a Mocking Bird, quite elusive and very vivid brown colour.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Unknown Bird
by: Russ

It sounds to me, no Pun intended, that you may be fortunate enough to have a Northern Mockingbird, from what you've said. They seem to be common to Industrial malls and the outskirts of various works yards, and construction sites and yards. If it is them that you have , they imitate a multitude of other bird sounds and will scare off any nearby intruders by physical assault, like Red Winged blackbirds. They're very active and vocal. Hope you find your bird, Keep looking up!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Mystery Singer
by: Randy

It sounds like it may be a Song Sparrow which is a fairly common bird. it would be fairly easy to find the call of one on the internet for comparison.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thayers Field Guide
by: Anonymous

I bought a cd program of North American Birds at Birds Unlimited. Excellent for identification since it has video and audio.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Brown Bird
by: Anonymous

Cowbirds are all brown, look up Cowbird on the internet and see if that fits the description.

Cowbirds look like a Starlings, only all brown.

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