I feed the birds, and I ID some of them, but I have a new roommate from another state, and he is bugging me about a bird. I am not sure which bird he is looking to ID but I don’t have time at the moment to search. If someone happens to know this bird by its call I would be appreciative of the assistance. The bird is about the size of a robin, black (dark) with a light bill and legs, which sounds like a starling to me, but he insists that it isn’t. The link to the Annoying Beeping Bird call may be found here.
Roommate is becoming an accidental ornithologist! :p:D
The recording is definitely a Northern Saw-whet Owl. As for the description, I have to assume that your roommate is just confused about which bird was making the call. The description doesn’t bring to mind any bird offhand except a starling, so if he wants it ID’d he’ll either need a photo or a much more detailed description.
Thank you, I thought I had replied to this, but apparently, I closed the browser before posting. I concur that it is the call of the Saw-Whet Owl, and Colibri that illustration of what a non-birder “sees” is terrifically spot on! The sad thing is that this guy is Alaska born and raised, but he is an Anchorage boy, a city boy, who knows very little of nature.
The sad thing is that this guy is Alaska born and raised, but he is an Anchorage boy, a city boy, who knows very little of nature.