# Help me identify this birdsong, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346 "2006-04-19T19:20:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/1 "2006-04-19T19:20:45Z")
Years ago, when I was college age, there was a time when I heard this marvellously melodic birdsong outside my window just before sunrise, and I’ve always wondered what it was. The problem is, I don’t remember if it was in San Diego, where I did most of my college, or in Germany where I spent my junior year. I have a hunch it was the latter, though. My first thought was that it might be a nightingale, since they don’t live in North America, but after hearing a soundclip of a nightingale song, it was nothing like it. I have no idea what musical notes would be closest to the actual song, but I do remember the melodic intervals. Let’s say the song began in G above middle-C on the piano. Then it went something like: G-C-G-G# (the G-sharp being just over an octive higher than the preceding note). I noticed **Colibri** ’s around, so maybe he can answer this. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/2 "2006-04-19T19:38:41Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > I noticed **Colibri** ’s around, so maybe he can answer this. Sorry, but I’m not very familiar with European bird songs, and I haven’t birded in California for many years. It doesn’t ring a bell. Why doesn’t anybody ever ask me to identify bird calls from Panama, Peru, or Gabon? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/3 "2006-04-19T20:11:13Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > The problem is, I don’t remember if it was in San Diego, where I did most of my college, or in Germany where I spent my junior year. Does the bird sound like, “po-to-weet?” If so, it was probably Germany. So it goes. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/4 "2006-04-19T20:23:18Z")
The likeliest birds you would have heard in San Diego would be a mockingbird (which would be much more varied than you describe) or a house finch. Finches have a song which is fairly repetitive; however, although it isn’t unpleasant, it sounds a bit “messier” than the song you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/5 "2006-04-19T20:32:39Z")
European [Blackbirds](http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/b/blackbird/index.asp) are notoriously early risers (there is also an audio clip). Listen [here](http://www.wildsong.demon.co.uk/LR/listening.html) for other examples. Despite what the RSPB site says about habitat I live in a city and regularly hear/get woken by a blackbird, bless 'im :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/6 "2006-04-19T20:36:24Z")
Hi! If the house was in a city, I believe the only possible “beautiful songster” must be a European Blackbird. The Blackbird song varies from individual to individual. Your description fits one phrase of a single bird… In Germany the Song Thrush is also found in cities but its song does not match that of the blackbird. Nightingales are not found in or even near cities. (European blackbirds are not related to American blackbirds). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/7 "2006-04-19T23:29:52Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Does the bird sound like, “po-to-weet?” If so, it was probably Germany. So it goes. The last note is rather drawn out. In tone it was like a virtuoso Panpipes player, sort of like: duuu…DOO…doo…DOOOOOOOT! ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/8 "2006-04-20T07:41:03Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > The last note is rather drawn out. In tone it was like a virtuoso Panpipes player, sort of like: > > duuu…DOO…doo…DOOOOOOOT! Typical of a Blackbird. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-birdsong-please/353346/9 "2006-04-20T11:22:42Z")
Was it a Swallow commuting to/from Capistrano?