Bird & Nature Blog
A clutch of the latest stories from Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
I feel so torn about writing about House Sparrows this week! Although they are an exotic, invasive species that displace and outcompete native birds, they ARE a very commonly heard bird — which is why they are here, in the Who’s That Singing series. For better or worse (and mostly worse), House Sparrows are apart of the soundscape in most urban and farm settings, so here we go!
Photo by Jan Rose FCC
I absolutely love it when a teeny-tiny bird can blast out a song completely out of proportion with their size. The Northern House Wren is the best example of that I can think of. The Northern House Wren is an excited little bird, seemingly constantly on the move and singing frequently their big, cheerful song. They are happy in back yards and will nest readily in nest boxes, so are a common one for backyard birders to hear and see.
Photo by Arlene Koziol
Nothing says “Spring is here!!” like the song of the American Robin. This common bird is many of our favorites for good reason. Its sounds are cheerful, familiar, and in Wisconsin synonymous with the arrival of warmer weather and springtime flowers. The American Robin makes a lot of different noises, and makes them often. It is a bird you are likely to hear on a daily basis, and once you commit their sounds to memory, you’ll be hearing them all over!
Photo by Arlene Koziol
