Alarm Calls

Program Description

Alarms calls often warn of an approaching predator. Songbirds may have more than one alarm call. For example, the white-crowned sparrow has a high, difficult to localize, alarm call in response to overhead threats, but a lower, easier to locate, alarm call for perched threats.

Program & Recording Notes

Chris Tenney recorded the white-crowned sparrow's song and "chink" or "pink" call along the Big Sur coast. The high "tseet" call I use is from the CD collection Western Birding by Ear produced for the Peterson Field Guide series.

Series 1
Introduction
Vocal Range
Importance of Song
Avoiding Monotony
Learning Song
Hip Hop Mimicry
Hummingbird Complexity
Syrinx Anatomy
Internal Duets (Cardinal)
Internal Duets (Cowbird)
Internal Duets (Thrushes)
Syrinx & Pan Pipes

Series 2
Songs & Calls
Call Repertoires
Alarm Calls
Mobbing Calls
Call Notes
Cross-Species Alarms
Pishing
Breathing
Lungs & Air Sacs
Circular Breathing
Resonance
Cooing