FOK Songbirds Cheatsheet

Images and brief info about song and calls. A total of 105 species is included.
Non-musical Non-musical: rasp Non-musical: rattle Non-musical: cawing Simple rhythmic Simple rhythmic: trill Simple rhythmic: whoop Simple rhythmic: rasp Simple rhythmic: slur Stereotype melodic Stereotype melodic: trill Stereotype melodic: whoop Stereotype melodic: rasp Stereotype melodic: churr Stereotype melodic: fluting Improvised melodic Improvised melodic: trill Improvised melodic: whoop Improvised melodic: swoop Improvised melodic: rattle Improvised melodic: fluting Improvised melodic: flourish Improvised melodic: weird Sings 30 seconds or longer Sings 30 seconds or longer: rasp Sings 30 seconds or longer: weird Sings 5-19 seconds One note Two notes Non-singer Non-singer: weird
Name/Image Song mnemonic/description Description
Non-musical
Alpine chough / Alpendohle (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
Auf dem Dach unter Vrenelisgärtli 2021-01-01 09.43.48 Profile 		Song Weird sounding chirping, often in large flocks. ♫ XC769199 - Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus graculus - song recorded in Morocco. Source: XENOCANTO XC769199 - Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus graculus - song recorded in Morocco.mp3 (song)

Calls Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording ♫ XC512155 - Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus - flight call recorded in Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC512155 - Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus - flight call recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)
Non-musical: rasp
Fieldfare / Wacholderdrossel (Turdus pilaris)
Wacholderdrossel am Luppmen in Fehraltorf 2021-01-16 14.28.10 Profile 		Song BirdID says song a mix of dry contact calls, BirdLife that it's almost only heard in flight. The XC recording is a bit of a chuckle to me. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769296 - Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris - song, a series of contactcalls.mp3 (song)

 Personal notes: I had an interesting educational experience with fieldfares! Check it out under Redwing. Song: Gesang nicht melodisch,aus gepressten, quietschenden Tönen bestehend, fast nur im Flug vorgetragen. [Link] Song: Song a mix of dry contact calls; "trrrt trrrrt", and high pitched, drawn out, chattering improvisations. [Link] Calls: Schackernd, ähnlich obiger Art [Misteldrossel], aber weicher. Am Brutplatz raue krächzende Rufe. [Link] Calls: Scolding call a hard "check", often given in decelerating series. Contact call in migration a soft, pleasant but, buzzy "weet". Typically bursts into continuos, squeaky chattering at takeoff. [Link]
Bank swallow / Uferschwalbe (Riparia riparia)
Bank swallow. 2024-01-26 15.58.58 Thailand Profile 		Song Fast raspy one-noter. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC344092 - Sand Martin - Riparia riparia - raspy song but note, does not sing often.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song a primitive improvisation on the contact call. [Link] Calls: Contact call a mono- or disyllabic "trrrrt". Similar to House Martin but more raucous and less crisp, with less rolling r's, and with stable pitch throughout. Alarm call similar to House Martin; a sharp plaintive "tseep", but somewhat purer and more drawn. [Link]
Non-musical: rattle
Eurasian magpie / Elster (Pica pica)
Elster bei friedliweid. 2020-04-13 10.26.40 Friedliweid Profile 		Song Familiar rattle ♫ Source: BirdNet 20200418_073649 birdnet - Eurasian magpie, great tit HAS CLICKS.mp3 2020-04-18 07.36.49 Luppmen (song?)
 Song: Rich repertoire includes soft and surprisingly varied sub-song. [Link] Calls: Most notable sound a harsh, chattering "chechechecheche" used as warning call, or when mobbing predators. [Link]
Mistle thrush / Misteldrossel (Turdus viscivorus)
Misteldrossel. 2020-05-07 12.56.02 Hungerseeli Profile 		Song Song: Gesang ähnlich Amsel, aber eintöniger mit geringerem Tonumfang [auch kürzer, kein schnirpsliges Ende -- Bill] [Link] ♫ XC800869 - Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus. Source: XENOCANTO XC800869 - Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus.mp3 (song?)

Calls General: I mistook this one for a woodpecker the first time I heard it, partly because BirdNet also did! Rattle generated in vocal tract, not with the beak! 		Song: Gesang ähnlich dem der Amsel, aber weniger abwechslungsreich und melancholisch, fast weinerlich klingend. Meist von Tannenspitze aus. [Link] Song: Song loud, far reaching and melodic. Most similar to Blackbird, but pitch is higher, phrases shorter (3-6 notes) and most notably, pauses between phrases are much shorter. All which gives the song a much more hurried feel than that of the Blackbird. Timbre is thinner and slightly shivering, and tonal range more limited. May have recurring favourite motifs, but does not repeat phrases like Song Thrush. Sometimes adds higher pitched parts and imitations. [Link] Calls: Rufe:schnarrend „kerr“, daneben „tück-tück-tück“ [Link] Calls: Other calls; a dry rattle, likened to the sound of a piece of wood drawn over a coarse comb, and a Fieldfare-like "chuck". [Link] Similar to: Common blackbird
Non-musical: cawing
Eurasian jay / Eichelhäher (Garrulus glandarius)
Eichelhaeher for profile. 2020-04-17 08.48.34 Wald Fehraltorf Profile 		Song Harsh crow-like call, or quiet questioning, 'grumbling', or plaintive cries. ♫ XC519564 Eurasian Jay strange song maybe like grumbling I heard, what BirdID calls a buzzard-like, mewing peeeaaa. Source: XENOCANTO XC519564 Eurasian Jay strange song maybe like grumbling I heard, what BirdID calls a buzzard-like, mewing peeeaaa .mp3 (song)

Calls Typically harsh jay call. I would say a contact call usually means 'Here I am', answered by 'Good, here I am.' Listening to two jays in the Swiss mountains of Toggenburg, it sounded like 'HEY IDIOT, HERE I AM...WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?' 'WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T FIGURE IT OUT? OF COURSE I'M OVER HERE. PEABRAIN.' On the other hand, anthropomorphism is always dangerous, usually completely wrong approach. ♫ XC536051 Eurasian Jay harsh call 20s. Source: XENOCANTO XC536051 Eurasian Jay harsh call 20s.mp3 (call)
 Song: Quiet and varied subsong with mimicry, resembling a small passerine heard from both sexes. [Link] Calls: Most heard call a short, drawn and very hoarse, raspy sound, often given in quick successions. Also a Buzzard-like, mewing "peeeaaa" (more drawn and less full tone than Siberian Jay). [Link]
Spotted nutcracker / Tannenhäher (Nucifraga caryocatactes)
Wikipedia Tannenhaeher Nucifraga caryocatactes. Von Jyrki Salmi from Finland - Nutcracker, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Tannenhaeher Nucifraga_caryocatactes.jpg Profile 		Song Grehh, grehh, grehh!! ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC641465 - Spotted Nutcracker - Nucifraga caryocatactes - song is a series of calls.mp3 (song)

Calls Like crow or its cousin the Eurasian jay (Eichelhaeher). 		Song: Song a quiet improvisation of whistling and clappering sounds, interspersed with mimicry of other birds. [Link] Calls: Warning call a characteristic dry and rasping "karrr karrr karr" in even pitch. [Link] Similar to: Eurasian jay (Tannenhäher noch harscher als Eichelhäher)
Simple rhythmic
House sparrow / Haussperling (Passer domesticus)
Pair of house sparrows in a tree near Zürichstrasse, Fehraltorf 2020-04-11 07.54.30 Luppmen Profile 		Song An monotone chirping. Mainly 2-5 KHz with higher overtones. ♫ XC753974 - House Sparrow - Passer domesticus - song of a single bird, recorded in the UK. Source: XENOCANTO XC753974 - House Sparrow - Passer domesticus - song of a single bird, recorded in the UK.mp3 (song)

Calls Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording ♫ Source: BirdNet 20200725_091827 birdnet 825 chittering could be alarm call, - House sparrow.mp3 2020-07-25 09.18.27 Luppmen (alarm call)
 Song: Song a primitive, monosyllabic, or slightly disyllabic "chilp", hard to distinguish from Tree Sparrow. [Link] Calls: Most calls very similar to Tree Sparrow, but lacks said species' distinct high pitched call (chew-itt), and alarm call is less dry and raucous. [Link]
Great tit / Kohlmeise (Parus major)
Kohlmeise auf ast. 2020-04-13 10.29.27 Luppmen Profile 		Song Said to have a repertoire as a species of 50 or more different songs, albeit simple ones, up to 10 per individual. Females prefer a male with a large repertoire. One two-note song sounds like a squeaky bed. ♫ Ungewöhnlicher kohlmeise gesang hmhmlmlmhmh, approximately notes GCGCgCgCGCG. 2024-05-02 15.36.26 Fehraltorf (song)
Calls Chuck-a-chuck-a-chuck, sometimes preceded by higher 'wheat!' ♫ Call from Xeno-Canto Illustrates higher 'wheat' before the 'chuck-a-chuck' Source: XENOCANTO XC586723 great tit call wheat chuck-a-chuck.mp3 (call)

 Song: Nabu: Die erste Vogelart, die wir im Jahr hören, ist meistens die Kohlmeise mit ihrem typischen Läuten: "Zip Zäh" oder "Zip zip Zäh". [NABU Experte Lars Lachmann bei Deutschlandfunk Nova] Song: Song highly variable, but usually consisting of two to three notes repeated in a motif. Same birds have many different motifs but generally repeat them many times before switching. Identified by its timbre and often metallic resonant quality, more than by actual phrasing (which is very variable). Often includes buzzing sounds in song. [Link] Calls: Generally more full-bodied and resonant calls than blue tit, and not so high-pitched. Characteristic Chaffinch-like "tink tink tink" often uttered by male. [Link]
Common chiffchaff / Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita)
In our back yard in Fehraltorf 2020-10-03 12.44.50 Luppmen Profile 		Song Seems to consist of 3 notes repeated randomly, occasionally just 2 notes. Though NABU.de says they stop singing at the end of July, I do hear their 3-note song occasionally in October, but just one or two repetitions. ♫ Source: BirdNet 20201005_090433 birdnet 968 saw kohlmeise as part of this conversation - Common chiffchaff - Fehraltorf.mp3 2020-10-05 09.04.33 Fehraltorf (song?)
Calls Repeated rising note, not too loud ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC656913 - Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita - call recorded in Belgium.mp3 (contact call)

 Song: [Translated from German:] From the middle of August till the end of September the chiffchaff offers regular autumn song. [Link] Song: Lange Reihen (6-20) von „zilp-zalp“-Rufen, meist abwechselnd in Tonhöhe. (Als bemühe sich der Sänger vergeblich den ersten Ton wieder zu treffen , ohne jedoch weit zu verfehlen.) „Zins zahl, Zins zahl, zahl Zins, Zins Zins zahl“ („Zins“ etwas höher als „zahl“) [Link] Song: Song a very distinct: "chiff-chaff-chiff-chiff-chaff-chiff", in a regular clock-like rhythm. Each syllable at seemingly random pitch, but no large intervals tonally. Sometimes "get stuck" at one note. [Link] Calls: Rufe :einsilbiges „hüid“, hinaufgezogen, wandelbar. [Link] Calls: Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hooeet". Similar to W.Warbler, but shorter with a monosyllabic feel. [Link]
Common firecrest / Sommergoldhähnchen (Regulus ignicapilla)
Wikipedia Sommergoldhaehnchen (Regulus ignicapilla) weiblich. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Sommergoldhaehnchen_(Regulus_ignicapilla) weiblich.jpg Profile 		Song Very high rhythmic repetition of about 3 seconds ♫ XC769178 - Common Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla - song recorded in the Netherlands. Source: XENOCANTO XC769178 - Common Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla - song recorded in the Netherlands.mp3 (song)

 Song: Wie [beim Wintergoldhähnchen] aber auf gleicher Tonhöhe bleibend. [Link] Song: Song: Similar in timbre to Goldcrest, but much more monotonous. [Link] Calls: „sisisi“ [Link] Calls: Call: a thin "tsi tsi tsi" similar to Goldcrest, but not so sharp. [Link]
Eurasian tree sparrow / Feldsperling (Passer montanus)
In tree by First, ZH. 2020-05-04 17.33.32 Luppmen Profile 		Song Monotone chirping, rougher than that of the house sparrow. Most 2-7 KHz mit many overtones, i.e. somewhat higher than the house sparrow. ♫ XC558751-Feldsperling. Source: XENOCANTO XC558751-Feldsperling.mp3 (song?)

 Song: Chattering sounds are generally harder, and song slightly higher pitched than House Sparrow. [Link] Calls: Distinct, high-pitched and explosive contact-call; "che-witt" typically given in flight. Second syllable rising rapidly in pitch. [Link]
Marsh tit / Sumpfmeise (Poecile palustris)
Photographed on the Luppmen in September 2019 I didn't recognize it then but I'm pretty sure now. 2019-09-22 18.45.30 Luppmen Profile 		Song Higher-pitched than great tit, sometimes repetitive 1- and 2-note tunes like them, sometimes simple melodies, usually pure, sometimes chirpy or raspy. BirdID at Nord U says 'Song: A simple one or two note call repeated in series. Usually rising slightly in pitch, and with a "liquid" quality.'. At bird-song.ch it's hl-rest-hl, or 7-8 2-noter swoops. bird-song.ch names lh-break-hl as a pistjä call and also has a series of 7 or 8 falling 'swoops'. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC727754 - Marsh Tit - Poecile palustris.mp3 (song)

Calls Falling note, relatively long, sometimes repeated - like the pee below without the choo? ♫ Call from Xeno-Canto Source: XENOCANTO XC594764 marsh tit call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Klapperlied - 6-8 Noten 'angeschlagen' Song: Klapperlied. Reihe (6-8) weich angeschlagene Töne mittlerer Höhe. Ähnlich der Klappergrasmücke aber weicher. (Sumpf ist weich) Oft auch Rufe wie „psja“ zu hören. Ziemlich scharf u. gepresst. [Link] Calls: Most typical call an explosive, sneeze-like "pee-choo", starting high-pitched and ending on a lower note.
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Common whitethroat / Dorngrasmücke (Sylvia communis)
Wikipedia: Common whitethroat Source: OTHER 1200px-Common_Whitethroat.jpg Profile 		Song Song: Often ends with more indistinct mimicry, or subsong. May omit characteristic phrase and sing more cryptic for periods of time, and may be more difficult to identify. [Link]
Relativ kurzer gesang, an Anfang fallend, dann entweder weiter oder steigend. 7-14 notes. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC344648 - Common Whitethroat - Sylvia communis communis - song, recorded in Germany.mp3 Germany (song)

 Song: Gesang kurz und rau (Kürzester Name).Oft im Singflug aber auch ab Warte. Wenn im Singflug dann Strophe etwas länger. [Link] Song: Often ends with more indistinct mimicry, or subsong. May omit characteristic phrase and sing more cryptic for periods of time, and may be more difficult to identify. [Link] Calls: heiser, etwas nasal „wäd“ warnt m.“tschähr“. [Link] Calls: Warning call a harsh, drawn "weeet", usually with accented ending, sometimes rising abruptly in pitch. [Link]
Yellowhammer / Goldammer (Emberiza citrinella)
Goldammer am Aabach, Wetzikon. 2021-03-10 10.36.28 Wetzikon Profile 		Song High-pitched, two notes that sound like one, repeated 10-12 times, with a higher tweet and then a whistle that sounds higher to me but usually shows up on the sonogram as the same range. The mnemonic for the staccato song in German is: «Wie, wie, wie, wie hab ich dich lieb». See the image for dialects noted by yellowhammers.net - the most common Swiss dialect is said to be XlB, though I don't always hear the second note myself (and interestingly enough, it doesn't play on my Bose headphones). Pavel Pipek of the yellowhammers project kindly explained to me: 'Regarding the XlB and other dialects, these codes were defined by a Danish scientist Poul Hansen in his paper from 1985. In this case Xl stands for a syllable with high frequency (and long) and B for a syllable with low frequency.' ♫ XC29721 - Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella - song with XlB dialect, recorded in Cudrefin, Switzerland. Source: XENOCANTO XC29721 - Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella - song with XlB dialect, recorded in Cudrefin, Switzerland.mp3 Switzerland (song)

 Personal notes: Habe ihn im Fehraltorfer-Wald endlich gesehen als er von einem Baum in die Spitze eines anderen geflogen ist. Song: Kurzes Liedchen. „ Wie wie wie hab ich dich liiieb“ Das „Lieb“ ist meist etwas tiefer, kann aber auch höher sein oder doppelt, dabei das eine höher und das andere tiefer. Sehr variabel! [Link] Song: Song a series of 6-8 (or more) slightly ascending "tze" 's, rising in volume and ending on a sustained note, which may be lower or higher than the others. Often rendered as "little-bit-of-cheese-and-no-bread". Last note is often omitted, which may lead to confusion with Cirl Bunting. Timbre with prominent harmonics as in other bunting songs. [Link] Calls: „zick“ „zeck“ [Link] Calls: Distinct contact call: A short and brittle "zeet", rich in harmonics. [Link]
Cirl bunting / Zaunammer (Emberiza cirlus)
Zaunammer in den Reben bei Maienfeld. 2021-05-29 08.48.26 Maienfeld Profile 		Song biologie-wissen.info: sings beg Feb to mid July; me: long trill similar to yellowhammer ♫ XC758664 - Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus - one-note song recorded in Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC758664 - Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus - one-note song recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

 Personal notes: Als Anfänger, hätte ich gedacht, dies wäre eine Goldammer, da beide gelb mit braunen Details sind; BirdID meint sie sind kompakter. Das Männchen ist eher gelb und hat was für mich wie drei brauen Streifen im Gesicht aussehen. Die Goldammer hat kaum braun am Kopf. Das Weibchen ist weniger gelb und mehr braun. Siehe BirdID für gute Bilder und Beschreibung der Erkennungsmerkmale. Song: BirdID says song like yellowhammer with no ending. I see what they mean - it's more like 16 or so trilled repetitions of the same note, and no leap up to 'lieb' as in the German Goldammer mnemonic. Song: Wie Goldammer, aber ohne das „lieb“.und etwas tiefer. Ähnlich Klappergrasmücke. [Link] Song: Song variable, but can generally be described as a Yellowhammer phrase with no ending, or an Arctic Warbler with bunting timbre. Tempo also variable, but rhythm always even. [Link] Calls: Sehr ähnlich denen der obigen Art [Goldammer]. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a thin "tseeep", similar to Rock Bunting, but more drawn out. [Link] Similar to: Song thrush , Common nightingale , Eurasian golden oriole
Willow tit / Weidenmeise (Poecile montanus)
Willow tit. 2020-04-25 08.51.40 Luppmen Profile 		Song Songs I've heard alternate two notes and look like a sine wave on the sonogram. Vogelwarte.ch: Apart from minor differences in diet and size, Alpine Tit and Willow Tit can only be identified by their song. The Willow Tit utters a series of long, descending notes («tyoo tyoo tyoo tyoo»), whereas the Alpine Tit’s territorial song consists of short notes on an even pitch («dee dee dee dee dee»). See more here. ♫ Source: OTHER 509229 (song)
 Song: 1.Gesangstyp: „ziü ziü ziü „ etwas wehmütig, die einzelnen Töne leicht absinkend, nicht klappernd. Bei Unterart Alpenmeise auf gleicher Höhe bleibend. 2.Gesangstyp: variable, schwätzende, helle Folge m. trillerndem Schluss. [Link] Song: Song: One or two soft, clear, melancholic notes repeated in a slow, even rhythm. At first rising slightly in pitch, then gradually falling. In some areas song is evenly pitched. [Link] Calls: Folge v. etwas heiser näselnden „zi zi dääh dääh. (einmalige Laute) [Link] Calls: Call: Most characteristic call a frequently uttered, nasal "ti ti chaa chaa chaa". First notes high pitched and the following lower, coarse, nasal and drawn. Sometimes uttered without the introductory high pitched notes. [Link]
Savi's warbler / Rohrschwirl (Locustella luscinioides)
Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl Chiemgau. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl_Chiemgau.jpg Profile 		Song Endless buzzing like an insect or machinery. Lower tone than Feldschwirl. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC710242 - Savi's Warbler - Locustella luscinioides - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Gesang ähnlich obiger Art [Feldschwirl]. Tiefere Tonlage, höhere Frequenz. Strophen meist kürzer [Link]
Bohemian waxwing / Seidenschwanz (Bombycilla garrulus)
Wikipedia: Bohemian waxwing Source: OTHER 1200px-Bombycilla_garrulusII.jpg Profile No documented observation ❑❑ Habitats: Settlement
 Song Lots of trills. [Link] ♫ XC749574 - Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - song recorded in Norway, a long series of trills. Source: XENOCANTO XC749574 - Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - song recorded in Norway, a long series of trills.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song more or less a variation on the contact call. [Link] Calls: Contact call weak, but distinct and typically alert one to the presence of a flock. A thin, high pitched, ringing "tzrrrrrrr". [Link]
White-winged snowfinch / Schneesperling (Montifringilla nivalis)
Wikipedia: White-winged snowfinch Source: OTHER 1200px-Snowfinch.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
 Song The XC song I downloaded is a faint chirping. Should follow up on song - most talk about calls. ♫ XC736093 - White-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla nivalis - song recorded in Switzerland. Source: XENOCANTO XC736093 - White-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla nivalis - song recorded in Switzerland.mp3 Switzerland (song)

 Song: Song a staccato, variable phrase, consisting of short burst of sharp chattering in uneven tempo. The timbre is ringing, rich in harmonics and partly rolling. [Link] Calls: Among the various contact call the commonest are a high-pitched, sharp "zeet", a deeper, Brambling-like "veet, or a sparrow-like "peea". Alarm call a rolling "trr-r-r-rt", resembling Crested Tit. [Link]
Spotted flycatcher / Grauschnäpper (Muscicapa striata)
In a pinch barbed wire will do instead of a tree branch. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia-300px-SpottedFlycatcheronfence.jpg Profile 		Song High (6-8 KHz?) short sound repeated every half to 5 seconds. ♫ XC656714 - Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata. Source: XENOCANTO XC656714 - Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata.mp3 (song?)

Calls General: To me something between a one-note and an extremely simple melody, namely med-med chk-hi-med-med, with a very irregular speed, not at all like a metronome.
Call: Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. [Link] ♫ XC656714 - Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata - Sounds similar to what I know. Source: XENOCANTO XC656714 - Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata.mp3 (call)

 Song: Gesang 'unauffaellig' - zirp x 2-3, mal steigender tWIT Song: Song a primitive, slow series of various buzzing and very high pitched sounds. No recurring phrases. [Link] Calls: The discreet calls often goes unnoticed. Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. Alarm call a sharp, drawn "tzreeeee-check", with the second syllable abruptly clipping the sound. [Link]
Common grasshopper warbler / Feldschwirl (Locustella naevia)
Wikipedia: Common grasshopper warbler Source: OTHER Grashoppsangare-070512.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Wetland
 Song Buzzing like an insect or machinery. BirdLife Schweiz says like a grasshopper (which is after all the English name). ♫ XC557238 - Common Grasshopper Warbler - Locustella naevia - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC557238 - Common Grasshopper Warbler - Locustella naevia - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Sehr lang anhaltendes Schwirren. Die einzelnen Schlage noch zu erkennen. Der Klang erinnert etwas an Heuschreckenzirpen (alter Name Heuschreckenrohrsänger, langer Name, lange Strophe) und klingt etwas blechern., d.h. Mit Oberton. (fast wie ein Wecker bei dem man den Finger etwas auf die Glocke hält) [Link] Song: Song insect-like and high-pitched. A monotonous stream of even clicks similar to a running fishing line. Maintained for seemingly endless periods, and often hard to locate. Song most similar to Savi's Warbler but is slower (each click more separated), and higher pitched with a metallic, ringing quality. Short sequences of song also functions as contact call. Also a Robin-like "tick". [Link] Calls: Rufe:“pswitt“ (spitz) [Link]
Ring ouzel / Ringdrossel (Turdus torquatus)
Ringdrossel. 2023-05-27 11.28.22 Amden Hinder Hoechi Profile 		Song BirdID says Song a primitive, plaintive series of short phrases, often with only 1-2 syllables (I heard 2-3 in Amden, sometimes chirpy, sometimes less musical). ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC721589 - Ring Ouzel - Turdus torquatus - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Habe mit dem Buntspecht verwechselt - Ringdrossel singt 2-3 Noten - hilft das? [Link] Song: Song a primitive, plaintive series of short phrases. Often with only one or two syllables. Interspersed with eerie, higher pitched sounds, reminiscent of Song Thrush. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a series of "chok-chok". Thicker and more resonant than Redwing. [Link]
Simple rhythmic: trill
Eurasian blue tit / Blaumeise (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Erste Blaumeise aufgenommen in Fehraltorf Ich hatte sie lange gehoert aber als Kohlmeise miserkannt (es ist oft aehnlich und ich war Anfaenger. Dann habe ich diesen auf einem Baum gesehen, und es wurde klar, dass sie wirklich auch bei uns leben. 2020-04-15 19.12.31 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: High-pitched, often descending (hhll), occasionally ascending. "Christina compares it to a ping-pong ball dropping.
[In Januar singt die Kohlmeise als erster Vogel in Deutschland], dann kommt die Blaumeise dazu. ♫ XC555029 blaumeise. Source: XENOCANTO XC555029 blaumeise.mp3 (song?)

Calls Low-high-high, with lightly raspy start, rather high. ♫ XC581312 blaumeise begging call. Source: XENOCANTO XC581312 blaumeise begging call.mp3 (begging call)
 Personal notes: In How to be a Bad Birdwatcher, Simon Barnes nicely explains hierarchies in feeding groups and how niches prevent blue tits from being starved by the larger, more dominant great tits. Normally they forage differently, he says, and at feeders it's simply clear to both that the great tit goes first. However in May 2021, we watched a blue tit repeatedly chase off a great tit that landed at the feeder where he was already enjoying some sunflower seeds! There are always exceptions to the rules! Song: Song: Characteristic, clear, high-pitched, vibrating call. Usually introduced by a couple of accenting syllables, followed by ringing vibrating notes: "ti ti chuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu". [Link] Calls: Scolding alarm call: "tee-tee-tee-chirruwitt" similar to Great Tit. [Link]
Common redpoll / Birkenzeisig (Acanthis flammea)
Wikipedia: Common redpoll Source: OTHER 1200px-Carduelis_flammea_CT6.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
least concern 		Song A few chirps and a trill, then repeat. ♫ XC703947 - Common Redpoll - Acanthis flammea - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC703947 - Common Redpoll - Acanthis flammea - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song an improvised chattering on various contact calls with no apparent phrasing. [Link] Calls: Contact call diagnostic. A chattering "Chutt-utt-utt", with a more metallic and nasal timbre than Linnet and Twite. Other sound includes plaintive call mostly given when perched. Uttered as a continuous sound, but with a disyllabic feel. First part ascending slowly, then faster before it is cut off "tsooeet". [Link]
Lesser whitethroat / Klappergrasmücke (Sylvia curruca)
Wikipedia: Lesser whitethroat Source: OTHER Sylvia_curruca_1_%28Martin_Mecnarowski%29.jpg Profile 		Song Song typically consists of two parts. An indistinct chattering and warbling, subsong-like part similar to [common] Whitethroat, which is usually followed by a dry, fast and rattling trill. The trill carries much further than the chattering part. May be difficult to identify if trill is omitted. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC652419 - Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca - song.mp3 (song)

Calls BirdID says: Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer ♫ Source: OTHER 575779 (call)
 Song: Klappernd. (Müllerchen) An Berglaubsänger erinnernd. Klappertöne (5-8) Aber oft mit leisem schwatzendem Vorgesang, der fehlen kann. Kann auch an Sumpfmeise erinnern, doch sind bei dieser die Klappertöne mehr von oben her angeschlagen. [Link] Song: Song typically consists of two parts. An indistinct chattering and warbling, subsong-like part similar to Whitethroat, which is usually followed by a dry, fast and rattling trill. The trill carries much further than the chattering part. May be difficult to identify if trill is omitted. [Link] Calls: „tze“ oder „tett“ [Link] Calls: Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer. [Link] Similar to: European greenfinch
Wood warbler / Waldlaubsänger (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
Wahrscheinlich Waldlaubsänger. 2022-05-22 09.52.22 Leuk and surroundings Profile 		Song Sid-sid-sid-sirrrr. 3 secs, then 5 secs pause. At bird-song.ch I hear a slow-fast one-noter, about 8 slow ones in 1.5 seconds, then a trill of 25 fast ones. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC727564 - Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: kurze Reihe (4-10) v. Stakkatotönen, gefolgt von abfallendem Schwirrroller. (Tönt wie das Anlassen eines Velosolex) Während des Gesanges schwebender Schwirrflug. Dazu hört man eine Reihe angenehmer Pfeiflaute wie „djü“ [Link] Song: Song distinct. An accelerating series of sharp, metallic "swee-swee-swee-swee". Alternative (piping) song a series of 4-6 piping, plaintive and descending "pew - pew" calls. Resembles Willow Tit's song, but is softer with each note more evenly pitched. Contact call similar to individual syllables of piping song, but with heavier accent on the ending. [Link] Calls: „düü“ [Link] Calls: Typically with a staccato beginning. Pitch drops as the speed increases and the syllables fuses into a continuous trill. Often described as the sound of a spinning coin coming to rest on a glass table. Some phrases may be given in an almost even tempo, and may recall Bonelli's Warbler. [Link]
Simple rhythmic: whoop
Tree pipit / Baumpieper (Anthus trivialis)
Wikipedia baumpieper Anthus trivialis. Von Vogelartinfo - Eigenes Werk, GFDL 1.2, Link Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia baumpieper Anthus_trivialis.jpg Profile 		Song Reminds me of a greenfinch - series of trills, whoops and other sounds with a long pause ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC570506 - Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Mehrere unterschiedliche Tonreihen aneinandergefügt. Zuletzt „zia zia zia ziah“. Zuerst auf Baum sitzend, dann im Singflug, Zia-Rufe während Gleitflug (Fallschirmvogel) [Link] Song: Song characteristic. Starts with a series of Chaffinch-like "che-che-che" which gives way to long, descending, "ricocheting" whistling notes (especially at the end of song-flight). [Link] Calls: “psiet“ etwas nach unten gezogen. Auch „zieh“ [Link] Calls: Flight call a short buzzing "tzzzeet". Given at even pitch, and in a fuller tone than Red-Throated Pipit. [Link]
Simple rhythmic: rasp
Brambling / Bergfink (Fringilla montifringilla)
Wikipedia Bergfink. Foto: Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Bergfink.jpg Profile 		Song General: Bergfink - call cheep plus two ascending Grünfink squawks. Song? Grünfink squawk but not descending, every 3-4 seconds.
Song: Song very distinct; a soft, wheezing, drawn-out single note. Repeated at the same pitch in a monotonous manner. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC731031 - Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song very distinct; a soft, wheezing, drawn-out single note. Repeated at the same pitch in a monotonous manner. [Link] Calls: Contact calls include a short, nasal, ascending "keeaa", a short high-pitched, piercing "tzeet" and a linnet-like "chepp". May be mistaken for Greenfinch, but note softer timbre and stable pitch throughout the call. [Link]
Simple rhythmic: slur
Coal tit / Tannenmeise (Periparus ater)
Coal tit in Wikipedia. Source: WIKIPEDIA Coal tit in Wikipedia.JPG Profile 		Song Higher-pitched than great tit, with more slurs instead of pure notes. Usually 2 or 3 notes in varied order. To me it seems they have a repertoire of songs, like their 'big brothers', the great tits. ♫ Tannenmeise lmhlmhlmh plus kettensäge. 2020-12-14 11.41.25 Luppmen (song)
Calls Analyze stuff at XC vs my BirdNet 962 - several notes, not sure if all coal tit as BirdNet suggested. XC has two-note high-low alarm call but simple song-like calls too ♫ Source: BirdNet 20201108_160244 birdnet 1075 chirpy call, coal tit in background - Great spotted woodpecker - Fehraltorf.mp3 2020-11-08 16.02.44 Fehraltorf (call)
 Song: Song: Various repeated motifs, consisting of two to three notes with alternating accents. Slightly similar to Great Tit, but faster, not so metallic and with a less full tone. Can be mistaken for Marsh Tit when singing single or double notes, but tone is softer and notes more clearly separated (if disyllabic). [Link] Calls: Call: short soft and clear "piu", first rapidly rising and then falling in pitch. [Link]
European crested tit / Haubenmeise (Lophophanes cristatus)
Wikipedia - Haubenmeise - Lophophanes cristatus - 01 - Carlos Delgado. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia - Haubenmeise - Lophophanes_cristatus_-_01 - Carlos Delgado.jpg Profile 		Song Higher-pitched than great tit - how distinguish from coal tit, etc? ♫ XC560609-european-crested-tit-lophophanes cristatus2020.05.20 11.51 01 song. Source: XENOCANTO XC560609-european-crested-tit-lophophanes cristatus2020.05.20_11.51_01 song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song: an improvisation over previously described calls. [Link] Calls: Call a characteristic vibrating rolling trill "Trrrrurrrurrrit", with last syllable emphasized and ending with ascending pitch. Often preceded by a couple of introductory "tzi tzi". [Link]
Stereotype melodic
Common chaffinch / Buchfink (Fringilla coelebs)
In tree by First, ZH. 2020-05-04 17.33.36 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: A medium long phrase that slowly descends (I think of it bouncing down a staircase), then usually takes a jump up before a final descent.
Song: In Bavaria the mnemonic for the typical chaffinch song is: „Ich hätte gerne ein Weizenbier“, i.e. "I'd like another Weizenbier". [DasHaus] ♫ 2024-04-30 12 55 Fehraltorf - Buchfink Gesang-Variante, steigt am Schluss - mmmmmmmmLlhH. 2024-04-30 12.55.00 Fehraltorf (song)
Calls General: Repeated ascending note, faster than the long starling whoops, but compare with the black redstart. There are many different calls, the Marler book describes the 'chink' call as functioning as a mobbing and separation call. At XenoCanto I find calls described as "ping", "pik" (same thing?), "pchew", "duit", "huit", "ti-huit".
Call: Der sogenannte Regenruf der Männchen, „schrrüt“, der selbst in benachbarten Ortsteilen deutlich variieren kann, erklingt nur während der Brutzeit. Als Regenruf wird er bezeichnet, weil er kurz vor oder sogar während des Regens zu hören ist, wenn die anderen Vögel verstummen. [DasHaus] ♫ Rain call from XenoCanto Recorded by Paul Driver in Mundford, Norfolk, UK Source: XENOCANTO XC71019 common chaffinch rain call.mp3 (rain call)

 Song: Song a falling 5 sec. phrase "zitt-zitt-chep-chepp-chu-chu-churrurrwitt". Structurally similar to Willow Warbler, but with a conclusive, ascending and accented ending, and with a much harder, finch-like, timbre. [Link]
Goldcrest / Wintergoldhähnchen (Regulus regulus)
Wintergoldhähnchen beim Meteorwasserkanal am Pfäffikersee. Endlich habe ich einen bei uns gesehen! 2020-10-30 16.44.10 Pfäffikersee Profile 		Song Vogelwarte.ch says high-pitched song that gently rises and falls. This song starts out with a repeated note. [Link] ♫ XC475114-Regulus regulus - Goldcrest song. Source: XENOCANTO XC475114-Regulus_regulus_-_Goldcrest_song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Kurze Reihe von sehr hohen, leisen Tönen in auf-absteigender Tonhöhe, an das „W“-im Namen erinnernd. [Link] Song: Song: a very high-pitched, undulating series of arpeggiated notes moving down and up again, repeated 4-5 times ending with a marked "conclusion" (like "trying to start a tiny motor and failing"). Timbre of song similar to contact call. [Link] Calls: 'sisisi' [Link] Calls: Contact call a very high pitched "zit zit zit", only similar to Firecrest and treecreepers. Treecreepers usually calls with longer "zzzziiiiit" repeated at regular intervals, while Goldcrest calls in phrases with two to four calls in series in an uneven rhythm. Firecrest contact calls lower pitched than Goldcrest, and in a softer tone (but quite similar). [Link] Similar to: Common firecrest (Wintergoldhaehnchen more up and down, shorter pauses; Sommergoldhähnchen slowly up.)
Dunnock / Heckenbraunelle (Prunella modularis)
Wikpedia photo because mine is poor. Source: WIKIPEDIA Dunnock oder Heckenbraunelle aus Wikipedia weil nur gehört.jpg Profile 		Song General: High-pitched, repetitive but complex little tune.
Song: Melodisch, slowly rising, roughly like black-cap warbler, which I guessed in the bird-song.ch quiz. [Link] ♫ XC778759 - Dunnock - Prunella modularis - song recorded in Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC778759 - Dunnock - Prunella modularis - song recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

Calls Swooping staccato call 0.5 seconds long heard near Lendikon. Repeated irregularly after 1-3.5 seconds. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC594397 - Dunnock - Prunella modularis modularis - call recorded in Poland.mp3 (call)

 Song: Singt schon im Vorfrühling. Klangfarbe ähnlich Gartenbaumläufer. Aufbau ähnlich Zaunkönig, aber ohne Triller. Viel leiser und dünner. [Link] Song: Song a fast and evenly paced, high pitched stream of clear notes. No consistent phrasing. Similar in timbre to Robin, but does not vary tempo or pitch nearly as much. Often compared to the sound of a squeaky wheelbarrow. [Link] Calls: Hohe „zi“ „tsi“. Auf dem Zug „zieht“. Etwas absinkend.. [Link] Calls: Contact call a dry, thick trill "trrr", and a short King Fisher-like, high-pitched "zeep". [Link] Similar to: Black cap warbler , European robin (Dunnock song stays around same pitch, isn't cascading)
Barn swallow / Rauchschwalbe (Hirundo rustica)
Barn swallow. 2022-05-05 09.41.44 Maryland Profile 		Song General: Squeaky with occasional buzzes, usually heard in flock.
Song: Kann melodisch sein wenn einzeln gehört statt viele zusammen. [Link] ♫ XC768452 - Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - song recorded in Denmark, rare recording with just a single bird. Source: XENOCANTO XC768452 - Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - song recorded in Denmark, rare recording with just a single bird.mp3 (song)

 Good to know: Die langen Schwanzfedern vom Rauchschwalbe und anderen geben auch dem Schmetterling Schwalbenschwanz seine deutschen Namen. Appearance and identification: Rauchschwalbes Bauch ist etwas braun rot, nicht weiss wie der von der Mehlschwalbe - was wahrscheinlich Quelle der zwei Namen ist. [Link] Song: Characteristic calls and song. Song a sparkling, squeaky energetic improvisation with interspersed contact calls, often with diagnostic ending; an electric and drawn-out "su-eerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". [Link] Calls: Contact call a short and sharp "weet" or "kee-weet". [Link]
White wagtail / Bachstelze (Motacilla alba)
White wagtail at edge of field near Mesikon 2020-04-25 07.21.02 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: Usually just calls. This song is just a few chirpy slurs, sometimes rising-rising-falling.
Song: Zirpt wie ein Sperling aber weniger Noten. Lh lh lh [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC694995 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba - song recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

Calls bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp» ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC644775 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba - call, recorded in Estonia.mp3 (call)

 Song: Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight. [Link] Calls: Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link]
Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus)
WikiCommons Fitis 13901013023. Source: WIKIPEDIA WikiCommons Fitis 13901013023.jpg Profile 		Song Buchfink diva Song similar to common chaffinch but higher, faster, tendency to descend but with more ups and downs. ♫ XC556112-Fitis 1 Laubsänger 2 song. Source: XENOCANTO XC556112-Fitis_1 Laubsänger 2 song.mp3 (song)

Calls Whoop very similar to chiffchaff, etc. but starts at an even level, then ascends. ♫ Call recorded in UK, sounds typical to me, and spiced up by a yellowhammer in the background and several other birds Source: XENOCANTO XC444002 - Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus - call in UK, with yellowhammer in background.mp3 (call)

 Song: Reihe v. Pfeiflauten (ca 12) etwas abfallend. Klingt ähnlich Buchfink, aber etwas traurig, melancholisch, wie in moll-Tonart. [Link] Song: By far most easily identified by it's call or song. Song: A 3-5 second, falling phrase of soft, rippling "svi-svi" sounds, starting high with some attack, and then falling in a mellow manner. The phrase lacks any conclusion, and diminishes both in strength and tempo. [Link] Calls: ähnlich oben, aber mehr zweisilbig [Link] Calls: Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hoo-eet". Similar to Chiff-chaff, but first part more drawn, giving it a disyllabic feel. [Link] Similar to: Common chaffinch
Redwing / Rotdrossel (Turdus iliacus)
Rotdrossel in einem baum neben dem Luppmen, rot unter den Fluegeln gut erkennbar, auch weisser Ueberaugenstreif. 2020-12-30 10.33.36 Luppmen Profile 		Song down 6+chattering Song delivered in two parts. First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC320315 - Redwing - Turdus iliacus.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song delivered in two parts. [Link] Calls: Contact call a thin, drawn and sharp "sreee". Often heard at night during migration. Alarm call harder, dryer and more raucous than other thrushes. [Link]
Ortolan bunting / Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana)
Wikipedia: Ortolan bunting Source: OTHER 1200px-Ortolan_bunting_in_Sierra_de_Guara%2C_Aragon%2C_Spain.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Agricultural
critically endangered 		Song First about 4 hlhlhlhl then a single higher or lower note ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC726530 - Ortolan Bunting - Emberiza hortulana - song recorded in Spain, first 4 hlhlhlhl then a single higher note.mp3 Spain (song)

 Song: Song simple, but varies from region to region. Sometimes structurally similar to yellowhammer, but slower, more melancholic, and with more clearly audible harmonics f.ex. "tze-ti tze-ti tze-ti tweeeee". Beginning with repeated alternating notes (tze-ti) and ending on a lower note fading out with a rising pitch. Sometimes without the ending note (like yellowhammer). [Link] Calls: Calls: a vaguely House Sparrow-like "chepp", with a ringing quality, and a sharper cut-off "zeep". [Link]
Wallcreeper / Mauerläufer (Tichodroma muraria)
Wikipedia: Wallcreeper Source: OTHER 1200px-Wallcreeper_%28Tichodroma_muraria%29_female_Piatra_Craiului.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
 Song 5-notes LlmHh with pirol-like slowness and tone. ♫ XC569274 - Wallcreeper - Tichodroma muraria - song, this one sounds likes a pi-rol. Source: XENOCANTO XC569274 - Wallcreeper - Tichodroma muraria - song, this one sounds likes a pi-rol.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song variable in length, but main characteristic a sequence of 4-6 long, ascending whistles with timbre recalling whistling kettle. More complex and varied phrases are mixed with the long whistles. Both male and female sings. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a thin trilling "vuiirrrrrrr". Flight call one or several soft whistles, often with (very) short trill as attack or tail. [Link] Similar to: Eurasian golden oriole (Mauerläufer kennt nur eine Melodie?, Pirol diverse kurze.)
Tawny pipit / Brachpieper (Anthus campestris)
Wikipedia: Tawny pipit Source: OTHER AnthusCampestris_cropped.jpg Profile 		Song Song simple. Consists of three notes merged in a short, continuous and ringing "tsee-ro-ee", given every 1-2 seconds. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC726515 - Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song simple. Consists of three notes merged in a short, continuous and ringing "tsee-ro-ee", given every 1-2 seconds. Timbre is wagtail-like and intonation variable, but consistent in each song. Flight call similar in timbre, like a cross between Yellow Wagtail and House Sparrow (song). Thinner and more wagtail-like than Richard's Pipit. [Link]
Common redstart / Gartenrotschwanz (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Common redstart on a cable In Locarno-Monti 2020-06-17 14.29.54 Locarno Profile 		Song I though I had these guys figured out after hearing them in Locarno several times, but they're hard to get a handle on! At BirdID they are described the first two parts of a three-part song like this: 'an ascending single note, immediately followed by a trill', whereas in Locarno I heard an initial high-low-high-low, sometimes without the final low, perhaps also a quick middle note, and no trill. Then a relatively short blackbird or warbler-like tune of maybe 5-8 notes. Listening to more recordings at XenoCanto has completely confused me now! BirdID also says the song is similar to the black redstart, which I sometimes hear at XenoCanto, but never did in Locarno! They also note a similarity to the Lesser Whitethroat (Klappergrasmücke), which I hope to hear in Maienfeld. ♫ 2021-05-10 05.07.35 Locarno (song)
Calls At least in French, this is called the huit call. Not very consistent in tone from one note to another. Some stick to 3-4 or 3-4.5 KHz, others 2.5-5.5. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC551707 - Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus.mp3 (call)

 Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz. Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz. Song: Fängt immer mit denselben 3 Tönen an, einem „dih dede“, wobei das dih etwa ein bis zwei Töne höher liegt. Dann folgt eine kurze Strophe mehr oder weniger reine Töne. Das Ganze ist ziemlich individuell. [Link] Song: Song distinct, with three parts: First an ascending single note, immediately followed by a trill, then concluding with a squeaky, rattling improvisation that usually contains some mimicry. [Link] Calls: „Füid-tack“ das füid ähnlich dem des Fitislaubsängers, das tack schnalzend. (wie wenn man die Zunge schnell vom Gaumen abzieht) [Link] Calls: Alarm call a slightly drawn, Willow Warbler-like "huit" with a rising pitch, followed by a short, soft "tuc". [Link] Similar to: Lesser whitethroat (So says BirdID) , Black redstart (So says BirdID) , Common blackbird (So say I - shorter, with stereotyped beginning)
Common linnet / Bluthänfling (Linaria cannabina)
Bluthänfling. 2023-05-27 13.11.50 Amden Hinder Hoechi Profile 		Song General: Aehnlich wie ein Rohrsaenger aber nur kurze Segmente mit klaren Pausen.
Song: Nabu: Sein Gesang umfasst trillernde, kurze und musikalische pfeifende Laute, unter anderem „piUU“, „trrüh“ und „tu-ki-jüüh“. [Link]
Song: Gesang ist fast Rohrsänger-artig, relativ hoch und zirpend. Manchmal mit kleinen Pausen. bird-song Aufnahme where kurz, llll mhllll [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC705526 - Common Linnet - Linaria cannabina cannabina - song, recorded in England.mp3 (song)

 Song: Gesang fuer mich aehnlich wie Gruenfink. Song: Song a varied, sweet stream of contact calls, mimicry and trills with a staccato feel. [Link] Calls: Flight-call a quick and "bouncing" "gig-gig" or "tchett-tchett". Most often disyllabic utterances, while Twite seems to vary more the number of syllables. Tone harder and more bouncing. Most easily recognized by the frequently interwoven, disyllabic contact calls. [Link]
Collared flycatcher / Halsbandschnäpper (Ficedula albicollis)
Wikipedia: Collared flycatcher Source: OTHER 1200px-Collared_flycatcher_%28Ficedula_albicollis%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ■❑ Habitats: Forest
 Song Mein Halsband, mein Halsband, er schnäppt Simple tune... ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC727811 - Collared Flycatcher - Ficedula albicollis - song, recorded in Croatia.mp3 (song)
Red crossbill / Fichtenkreuzschnabel (Loxia curvirostra)
Wikimedia Red Crossbills (Male). Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Red_Crossbills_(Male).jpg Profile 		Song Repeated hi-low pattern...well, doesn't always sound like that. The very short beginning of my Stazersee recording before the static sets in does, as well as a song found online. One recording reminds me of cicada sounds. ♫ XC775798 - Red Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC775798 - Red Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: The song consist of improvised, resonant twittering, and series of contact calls with no apparent phrases. It is generally faster, with less marked pauses than in Parrot Crossbill, and the phrasing seems more random. [Link] Calls: Contact call similar to Parroy Crossbill's "tupp", but is on average higher and less powerful, with a "cut-off" ending. In sum: Parrot Crossbill; hard attack, soft ending, Crossbill: softer attack, cut-off ending. Beware regional variations and overlap in pitch of calls with Parrot. [Link]
Eurasian golden oriole / Pirol (Oriolus oriolus)
Wikimedia Eurasian golden oriole. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Eurasian golden oriole.jpg Profile 		Song A soft, lowish whistling. In my opinion, the golden oriole has a beautiful voice, but no imagination as to melody - it's always the same few notes. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC567973 eurasian golden oriole song.mp3 (song)

Calls 3 somewhat harsh ascending notes, more melodic than a Eurasian jay call ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC565722 eurasian golden oriole call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Varied repertoire, but song and common contact call very distinct. Song a series of 1-2 seconds long phrases of 3-5 yodeling, clear, fluting notes, interspersed with 2-3 second pauses. Tone very full-bodied, melodic and pleasing. [Link] Calls: Flötenrufen Oft wird der Gesang allerdings vom Star treffend ähnlich nachgeahmt. [Link] Calls: Contact call surprisingly different: A forced, drawn "weeackt", slightly resembling Jay, but less harsh, and much more nasal. Other sounds include a Wryneck-like warning call. [Link]
Northern shrike / Raubwürger (Lanius excubitor)
Wikipedia: Northern shrike Source: OTHER 1200px-Northern_Shrike%2C_Arvada%2C_Jefferson%2C_Colorado.jpg Profile 		Song I'd have called the song a call myself. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC30172 - Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor koenigi - three-note-song lmh recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

 Song: Song varied. During breeding season a varied subdued song is heard from both sexes. [Link] Calls: Alarm call very harsh, nasal and noisy. Dry and not as deep or resonant as crows. Territorial call before breeding starts is simple, loud and resonant. Consisting of pleasant sounding single or double syllables, with well defined pauses and peculiar harmonics. [Link]
Long-tailed tit / Schwanzmeise (Aegithalos caudatus)
Schwanzmeise am Pfäffikersee 2021-02-05 13.32.24 Pfäffikersee Profile 		Song Diddly doot-doot-doot-doot General: Meistens hoert man das Pfief...chk..chk..Pfief von den Rufen, siehe dort.
Song: Nabu: Der Gesang ist ein feines Trillern und selten zu hören (someone at XenoCanto compares it to a blue tit trill). [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC572437 - Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus - song.mp3 (song)

Calls Die fast ständig geäusserten, hohen Rufe verraten die kleinen, rastlosen Turner im Gezweig meist schon, bevor sie zu sehen sind. [Link] ♫ Flight call from XenoCanto Source: XENOCANTO XC517804 Long-tailed tit flight call.mp3 (flight call)

 Song: Song: high tsee-tsee; funny downhill trill
Short-toed treecreeper / Gartenbaumläufer (Certhia brachydactyla)
Gartenbaumlaeufer, Mesikomerweg, Pfaeffikersee. 2021-04-27 17.01.28 Pfäffikersee Profile 		Song 'short song in the gar-DEN' General: It sounds to me like a 5-7 note song like 'five k low high higher', 'short song in the gar-DEN'. The individual notes have the same backward checkmark shape as the call. It's basically the same across Europe.
Song: The song of the nominate subspecies is an evenly spaced sequence of notes teet-teet-teet-e-roi-tiit. [Link]
Its song is short, loud and rhythmic. [Link]
[In comparison with the visually similar Eurasian treecreeper, it] has a clearer, louder more staccato contact call of ‘sreet’ or ‘sree’ and a short ‘wit’ during normal activity [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC625133 - Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla - song.mp3 (song)

Calls General: See the sonogram how the song may descend rapidly from 7Khz to and then climb from 5 to 5.75 KHz, a kind of reversed checkmark. However I find it hard to distinguish from a single note. I'm not a bird ;-(
Call: calls with a loud (Wikipedia says shrill) “tyt tyt” [Link] ♫ A recording from Jorge Leitão in the Netherlands that I assume is the tyt tyt call. Source: XENOCANTO XC569503 - Short-toed Treecreeper - Certhia brachydactyla.mp3 (call)

 Song: Kurz u. bündig! (Gartenwege sind kurz.) Tonreihe am Schluss ansteigend. „Hesch du gseh woni bi? [Link] Calls: scharf „tiit, sri“ [Link]
Eurasian treecreeper / Waldbaumläufer (Certhia familiaris)
As seen creeping up a tree trunk Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia - European Treecreeper - Certhia_familiaris_-climbing_tree-8_(cropped_version).jpg Profile 		Song Sagging tree branch I say: it sounds like a faster higher chaffinch song. Wikipedia says: The male's song begins with srrih, srrih followed in turn by a few twittering notes, a longer descending ripple, and a whistle that falls and then rises. ♫ XC656422 - Eurasian Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris - song, recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC656422 - Eurasian Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris - song, recorded in Sweden.mp3 (song)

Calls General: Wikipedia says: The contact call is a very quiet, thin and high-pitched sit, but the most distinctive call is a penetrating tsree, with a vibrato quality, sometimes repeated as a series of notes.
Fairly regularly spaced single tseep at 7-9KHz.
Call: Contact call a drawn, high-pitched "tzreeee". Similar to Goldcrest in timbre, but of longer duration with a vibrating and slightly rolling tone. Generally repeated in evenly paced, slow series (unlike Goldcrest). [Link] ♫ XC206282 Eurasian treecreeper call. Source: XENOCANTO XC206282 Eurasian treecreeper call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Lang u. klar! (Waldwege sind lang). Tonreihe im Ganzen absinkend, nur letzter Ton höher. [Link] Song: Song a short, continuous three-part phrase. [Link] Calls: weniger scharf, „srih,“ weniger eindringlich als oben [Link] Calls: Contact call a drawn, high-pitched "tzreeee". Similar to Goldcrest in timbre, but of longer duration with a vibrating and slightly rolling tone. Generally repeated in evenly paced, slow series (unlike Goldcrest). Each phrase starts with a few contact call-like notes followed by a Willow Warbler-like descending part, which then jumps to a few descending high notes to form a marked conclusion. Note that "mixed singers" are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur. [Link]
Common rosefinch / Karmingimpel (Carpodacus erythrinus)
Wikipedia: Common rosefinch Source: OTHER Common_Rosefinch_Neora_Valley_National_Park_Darjeeling_West_Bengal_India_30.04.2016.jpg Profile No documented observation ■❑ Habitats: Wetland
endangered 		Song Einfacher, flötender Gesang: variations on a slurring hHmML. [Link] ♫ XC654449 - Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC654449 - Common Rosefinch - Carpodacus erythrinus - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song very characteristic. A melodious, pure and short whistle, often rendered as "pleased to meet you". Each note with a smooth gliding change of pitch. Number of syllables may vary. [Link] Calls: Contact call a short ascending "hueet" resembling Siskin in timbre. [Link]
Eurasian bullfinch / Gimpel (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Gimpel gesehen das erste Mal, Ammler Höhenweg. 2021-08-02 15.55.56 Profile 		Song 3-note long M, pause, HL (somewhat falling)...Gim! Gim-peeel! Sounds a bit like a pirol. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC637392 - Eurasian Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)

Calls laconic 1 note call w slight dip? Song NABU 1 parakeet like puppy-dog whining, NABU 2 whistles, 2-syllable peek-a-boo, ... ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC214867 - Eurasian Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula - contact call, recorded in Germany.mp3 Germany (contact call)

 Song: Song a quiet, modest mix of contact call and various chirping sounds, with peculiar harmonics. [Link] Calls: Contact call a soft, full-bodied, descending, pure whistle; "peeuu". [Link]
Western yellow wagtail / Schafstelze (Motacilla flava)
Schafstelze. 2024-02-02 16.00.54 Laos Profile 		Song Just a few notes, call seems to be common but song rare. Very short chirp of ~ 1 sec, long pause of 3 secs. At Wauwilermoos it seemed to be 'Twee tweetwee (higher note:) twee!' ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC721189 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava cinereocapilla - song.mp3 (song)

Calls General: Single note repeated
Song: sperling ähnliches lh lh lh. Dachte die wären melodisch?? Nein. BL chirpy ml ml [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Song primitive and less striking. Beware differences in calls and songs between different subspecies. [Link] Calls: Contact call characteristic and widely used; a sharp, drawn out "pseeeoo" with an accented ending falling in pitch. A variable phrase with two or three notes resembling the contact call in timbre. [Link]
Italian sparrow / Italiensperling (Passer italiae)
Italiensperling gerumpelt. 2023-06-19 10.26.08 Bolle di Magadino Profile 		Song Sounds like house sparrow to me ♫ XC729736 - Italian Sparrow - Passer italiae - song recorded in Italy. Source: XENOCANTO XC729736 - Italian Sparrow - Passer italiae - song recorded in Italy.mp3 (song)
Blue rock-thrush / Blaumerle (Monticola solitarius)
MerlinBirdID schlaegt Blaumerle vor, koennte aber genauso gut in Kaltbrunnerriet ein Amsel sein. 2022-06-04 12.05.18 Kaltbrunner-Riet Profile 		Song Pretty short up-and-down song heard in Mallorca ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC659831 - Blue Rock Thrush - Monticola solitarius - song is a variable up and down - recorded in France.mp3 (song)
Common house martin / Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbicum)
Mehlschwalben in Maienfeld. 2021-05-29 08.11.14 Maienfeld Profile 		Song Song: Mehlschwalbe klingt weniger melodisch als der Rauchschwalbe [Link]
Merry improv of chirping, contact call [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730813 - Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum - song and call according to recordist Fernando Aranguren Jiménez, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

Calls Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording ♫ Source: BirdNet 20200810_144528 birdnet 864 flight call - Common house martin.mp3 2020-08-10 14.45.28 Luppmen (flight call)
 Song: Song a merry improvisation of chirping, contact call-like sounds (sometimes recalling a budgerigar). [Link] Calls: Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee". [Link]
European pied flycatcher / Trauerschnäpper (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Trauerschnaepper. 2021-05-04 09.33.06 Flachsee am Reuss Profile 		Song Schwarzer Kopf aber nicht traurig Nice short melody, often with 2-note parts. Blackbird-like but little variation (though differs in dialect). ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC723965 - European Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca - song.mp3 (song)

 Appearance and identification: Kleiner SW Vogel, Kopf schwarz mit weissem Punkt an der Stirn, Bauch weiss. Gesang gar nicht traurig! [Link] Song: Song a pleasant, tuneful, simple but varied phrase. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a sharp, energetic "wit", often in combination with a short "tic"; "whit-tic". Typically starts with disyllabic notes being repeated 3-5 times, diminishing in pitch and intensity like an echo of the first two syllables. Occasionally throws in a quick diagnostic ascending scale excercise. Clear notes and well defined pauses between phrases. [Link] Similar to: Common blackbird
Stereotype melodic: trill
Common reed bunting / Rohrammer (Emberiza schoeniclus)
Wikipedia Common reed bunting (emberiza schoeniclus) m. By Charles J. Sharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31607772 Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Common_reed_bunting_(emberiza_schoeniclus)_m.jpg Profile 		Song General: At Fanel I heard sequences of whistles and trills (buzzes?), just a few notes, but wandering up and down: m h lll, or l m hhh m. Listen to recording of 2022-06-25 13.37.28
Song: BirdID: A short sequence of 3-5 brittle and buzzing sounds, repeated consistently with marked pauses. Last sound in phrase often has a conclusive feel, but not always. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC723277 - Common Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus - song.mp3 (song)

 Appearance and identification: A bit like General Burnsides: white sideburns, here curling back around a black head. [Link] Song: Song variable between individuals and breeding status: A short sequence of 3-5 brittle and buzzing sounds, repeated consistently with marked pauses. Last sound in phrase often has a conclusive feel, but not always. Paired males sing slower than unpaired. Unpaired male song also more contracted, making the pauses between each phrase stand out. [Link] Calls: Contact call a sharp, descending and drawn "tseeeoo". A bit similar to Yellow Wagtail, but not as sharp and explosive. In migration a thick, and unmusical "chong" is often heard. [Link] Similar to: Eurasian reed warbler (Auch langer Gesang mit kurzen Phrasen von ganz anderen Toenen)
Rock bunting / Zippammer (Emberiza cia)
Wikipedia: Rock bunting Source: OTHER 1200px-Rock_Bunting_%28Cochem%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
 Song AppearanceAndIdentification: orange-brauner bauch, weisse brust+kopf mit 3 schwarzen streifen am kopf (unter/am/ueber Augen), braun+dunkelbraun auf Fluegeln; aber Weibchen eher braun
Song: Notes from 2022: Short song, relatively long pause, repeated with slight variation? Has a very short triller of just 3 notes.
May have heard and seen one walking parallel to the Aa on the way to Pfaeffikersee today, though the visual ID is very uncertain; the Xeno-Canto song here sounds different than my 2022 description - musical like a chaffinch but rising, not falling. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC653755 - Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia - song, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

 Song: Song variable, but usually distinct. [Link] Calls: Recalls stuttering Dunnock. Jerky, uneven thythm and tempo, with fairly large register and recognizible bunting timbre. May include mimicry. Alarm call a thin, short "seeeep", with clipped ending, similar to Cirl Bunting. [Link]
Grey wagtail / Gebirgsstelze (Motacilla cinerea)
Gebirgsstelze am Wissbach. 2024-04-27 09.16.16 Schachen, Tobel Wissbach till Degersheim Profile 		Song BirdID says Song simple but variable. I hear trills up to 2 seconds long and chirps. Another description says a series of calls, not very melodic. I noted zwitx3, sometimes hhhhhll. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC767550 - Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea - song with trills and a cheek-cheek.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song simple but variable. Sometimes with more elaborate song-flight like White Wagtail. [Link] Calls: Contact call short, metallic and with a clipped ending. Often disyllabic, "tzeet-tzeet", with each syllable more separated than in White Wagtail, and timbre more "dirty". Often starts with the contact call, followed by short melodic phrases. [Link]
Stereotype melodic: whoop
Corn bunting / Grauammer (Emberiza calandra)
Grauammer im gleichen Busch wie Neuntoeter, mit typischem dunklen Brustfleck und dickem Schnabel. 2022-06-25 09.02.26 La Sauge Profile 		Song General: Song is an ascending trill or buzz that climbs about an octave - 4-8 KHz.
Song: Gesang steigend und immer schneller wie .... was? [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC632949 - Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra - song.mp3 (song)

 Geography: Eher selten in CH. [Link] Song: Sieht für mich eher braun aus als der Grau im Namen, mit einem Finken-Schnabel und Striche oben auf der Brust wie ein Drossel [Link] Song: Song diagnostic. A brittle, jingling and accelerating phrase of about 2 seconds duration. [Link] Calls: Calls with a dry "chep" or a brittle "vitt". [Link]
Stereotype melodic: rasp
European greenfinch / Grünfink (Chloris chloris)
A rare visitor by our bird feeder in Fehraltorf 2023-01-16 10.54.12 Fehraltorf Profile 		Song General: Sequence of 4-6 rhythmic elements at different pitches. A sort of trill is often start or end of the sequence, there are slides. ♫ Source: BirdNet 20210731_102232 birdnet 1877 - European Greenfinch, h trill, m trill, 4x m swoop - European Greenfinch - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-07-31 10.22.32 Fehraltorf (song)
Calls Raspy descending note ♫ Source: BirdNet 20200529_082802 birdnet 566 their noisy call - European greenfinch.mp3 2020-05-29 08.28.02 Luppmen (call)
 Song: Song composed of various sequences of linked sounds, repeated in a vibrating manner; "trrrrrrrrr", "chechechecheche". Sometimes resembles Brambling when making the wheezy "rrrrrrrrr" sound, but differs in being harsher and by "pulling" the pitch downwards (or sometimes upwards) at the end. [Link] Calls: Contact call a fairly resonant "chep-chep", resembling Redpoll, but less nasal and with a fuller tone. Also a sharp, drawn, ascending "kooeee", (perhaps not obviously recognized as a finch). [Link] Similar to: Brambling (Greenfinch also occasionally utters rising squawks like the brambling) , Tree pipit
Stereotype melodic: churr
Black redstart / Hausrotschwanz (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Black redstart singing atop a tree This black redstart was singing in the tree by the tennis club behind the train station in Fehraltorf in April 2020 2020-04-23 11.17.18 Fehraltorf Profile 		Song The song is two parts and unvarying. If it were a pop song, you'd call it ABABAB... The second part starts with a sputtering trill. The RSPB in the UK says 'warble with crackling trills.' Vogelwarte.ch says 'Der gepresst knirschende Gesang setzt meist lange vor Sonnenaufgang ein und ist der Auftakt für das Vogelkonzert.' BirdLife-Zuerich.ch says 'Einziger Sänger morgens um drei in den Häuserschluchten'. Obwohl NABU.de meint, sie singen nicht mehr nach Juli, war ich angenehm überrascht sie in Oktober im Tessin zu hören. ♫ XC745021 - Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros - typical song recorded in Calabria, Italy. Source: XENOCANTO XC745021 - Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros - typical song recorded in Calabria, Italy.mp3 (song)

Calls XC560014 matches exactly what BirdID describes: 'Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck".' The high-pitched call I heard recently was between 5 and 6 KHz, which could help to distinguish between other birds with a deeper voice. The whooping call is sometimes listed as an alarm call. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC657510 - Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros - call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Other: Einige Arten wie der Hausrotschwanz singen zudem im Herbst, bevor sie in ihr Winterquartier ziehen. Die Männchen legen dann ihre Reviere bereits «provisorisch» fest. [Link] Song: Am Morgen der erste Sänger: Kurzes dreiteiliges Liedchen, meist von Warte aus gesungen. Mittelstück aus rauen gequetschten Tönen. (als ob kurz die Stimme verloren) [Link] Song: Song consists of three parts and is distinct if heard well. It opens with some clear notes that may form a trill, which are then followed by a pause. The "gravel-part" does not carry as far as the rest of the song. [Link] Calls: „hüid-tze“ das tze deutlich tiefer. [Link] Calls: Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck". [Link]
Stereotype melodic: fluting
European goldfinch / Stieglitz (Carduelis carduelis)
Nach Disteln mögen sie Sonnenblumenkerne 2020-10-13 09.21.10 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: Hectic sing-song, quite chaotic in feeding groups. But kept as songbird, so I guess more melodic when singing solo. A bit like a black cap warbler (Mönchsgrasmücke).
Gesang hat eine Struktur (und ist langsamer als der Girlitz): Zuerst eine kleine Melodie hoch und runter; dann vielleicht ein Gruenfink-Triller, dann 4 wiederholte Noten oder ein neues Melodiechen. (Oder kommen diese Elemente eher zufaellig?) ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC638230 - European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis.mp3 (song)

Calls Wild melody (remember these birds are also kept as songbirds in cages. the German name Stieglitz imitates its call (sti-ge-lit) - though I don't hear that! [Link] ♫ Xeno-Canto recording Adult call recorded in the UK. Source: XENOCANTO XC468566 European Goldfinch call in UK.mp3 (call)

 Song: Name stammt angeblich vom Gesang: ein steigernder sti-ge-litt. Song: My first (multilingual) notes: Stieglitz like Grünfink, fast, high, occasional trills. Occasionally ends a bit with falling note like buchfink Song: Mir wurde erst in St. Moritz in Juli 2021 bewusst wie aehnlich der Steiglitz wie ein Gruenfink klingt - beide koennen lange Gesang mit Trillern und rauhen sinkenden Toenen singen, und ich habe Stieglitz v.a. durch dieses Stoehnen fuer Gruenfink gehalten. Song: Contact-call distinct, and also constitutes a major part of the song. A sharp and explosive "witt", or "tzee-witt". Sometimes given as a single syllable, di- or trisyllabic, or as continuous series. The song is comprised of rapid series of the contact call, interrupted by drawn-out melodic notes and trills. [Link] Calls: Other calls: A harsh budgerigar or house martin-like "trrrtt-trrrrt". [Link] Similar to: European greenfinch (Higher pitched than the greenfinch, easily hitting 9 KHz rather than 6.5 KHz)
Improvised melodic
Black cap warbler / Mönchsgrasmücke (Sylvia atricapilla)
This fellow is singing in a bush across the street from us, at Bahnhofstrasse 18 They seldom like to show themselves, so I was pleased to see him. 2020-04-15 09.20.34 Bahnhofstrasse 18 Profile 		Song They sometimes sing like a blackbird on speed - also non-stereotypic, seemingly improvised, in short bursts. Our local guy ends most of his songs with the same seven notes, which I find a good way to confirm the identification. In Ticino we often heard the 'Leiern' sound - the warblers would sing just the first 3 notes of a longer song, then stop. The order varied; high-medium-low I call 'Figaro' as in the opera, low-high-medium 'whiskey bar', as it sounded to me like the Kurt Weill lyrics, 'O-oh-show me-the-way to-the-next whis-ke-bar' - but the warbler usually stopped after 'way' or 'next' The British authors of The Sound Approach claim to hear 'a warblel and a whistle'. ♫ Source: BirdNet 20210331_191200 birdnet 1356 - Eurasian Blackcap hml - 2021-03-31 19:12:00 - Eurasian Blackcap - Lugano.mp3 2021-03-31 19.12.00 Lugano (song)
Calls General: Sputtery/stoney, but may have other calls too.
Call: The Blackcap may generate a perplexing variety of territorial calls, though the typical contact call is a hard, tongue-clicking "teck teck" which has a scolding quality to it. It's not dissimilar to the 'pebble-clacking' call of the Stonechat. [Suffex Wildlife Trust] ♫ XC546030 black cap warbler so-called tac and djii call. Source: XENOCANTO XC546030 black cap warbler so-called tac and djii call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Mit schwätzendem Vorgesang, (kann auch kurz sein oder ganz fehlen) der dann in klare, kräftige, zum Ende hin in wehmütige Flötentöne übergeht (Überschlag) [Link] Song: Song pleasing, varied and loud. Sometimes very similar to Garden Warbler. A typical phrase starts with soft, staccato chattering and mimicry, which after a few seconds changes to a much louder, pure and resonant stream of notes for about 3-5 seconds. No fixed motif, but may end phrases with recurring notes. Often deviates from the characteristic type of song, and identification from song alone may be impossible. May sing first part of song for extended periods without ever reaching the characteristic ending. [Link] Calls: „täck“ oft wiederholt [Link] Calls: Alarm call a hard "check", similar to Lesser White-throat. Sometimes with an additional hoarse and nasal "cherrrr". [Link] Similar to: Common blackbird (So say I - similar tone, less inventive with motifs it uses most of the time (though regionally different), no high bits at end) , Garden warbler (Gartengrasmuecke meistens laenger, [Link])
Stonechat / Schwarzkehlchen (Saxicola rubicola)
Schwarzkehlchen, Neunkirch. 2023-07-16 10.52.36 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen Profile 		Song General: Series of short, often squawky little bits, sometimes like a house sparrow, often repeated with only small variation. E.g. MmLMH?
Song: Kurzer Gesang, eher steigend 8-19 slurred notes. Or 21 43 2143 [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC710467 - European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola rubicola.mp3 (song)

 Song: The English name derives from its call, sounding like two stones knocked together. [Link] Song: Gesang ähnlich obiger Art [Braunkehlchen]. Reine und kratzende Laute abwechselnd, wellenförmig [Link] Song: The song is a sweet stream of scratchy notes. Much more even, and less chattering than the Whinchat. Almost like a short and scratchy Dunnock phrase. [Link] Calls: hart „track“ oder „fiet-track-track“ [Link] Calls: Alarm call an alternation of a high-pitched "weet" and a hard "check", like other chats. The "weet" is much higher pitched than the similar call of Whinchat, and Stonechat repeats the "check" more frequently. [Link]
Common rock thrush / Steinrötel (Monticola saxatilis)
Steinroetel. 2022-05-21 15.36.14 Profile 		Song Nabu: Den weichen, melodischen Gesang trägt das Männchen zumeist im Singflug vor. [Link]
Whinchat / Braunkehlchen (Saxicola rubetra)
Mysterium im Rapsfeld von Friedliweid 2020-04-27 11.29.08 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: Short buzzy trilly sounds, 5-8 notes, high.
Song: Gesang hat zwei Teile wie erster und dritter vom Hausrotschwanz. Steigend, fallend. [Link] ♫ XC775379 - Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra - song, recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC775379 - Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra - song, recorded in Sweden.mp3 (song)

 Personal notes: Diesen Vogel haben wir paarweise in einem Rapsfeld entdeckt. Von weitem konnte man nur etwas orange Farbe entdecken. Ich habe ihn 2 Tage später im gleichen Feld gesucht und bin um das ganze Feld gelaufen. Erst am Ende habe ich ihn gesehen: am Anfang, sicher 100m von mit entfernt und um 2 Ecken. Da habe ich dieses Foto gemacht und in Büchern, Apps und Internet nach seiner Identität gesucht. Als ich ein sehr ähnliches Bild auf ornitho.ch gefunden habe, wo er auch auf einer Rapspflanze drauf sitzt, sah ich es als bestätigt, dass es ein Braunkelchen war.

Song: Song: Kurzes (3-7 Töne) Liedchen mit 1-2 Kreischlauten, (ähnlich der Mittellaute b. Hausrotschwanz) variabel. Ahmt auch andere Vögel nach. [Link] Song: Song variable with lots of mimicry. The short phrases starts with dry, rattling or sneering trills, followed by clear whistling notes and expert mimicry. More varied, both in tone and tempo, than both Stonechat and Wheatear. [Link] Calls: „teck, teck“ (ähnlich wie wenn man zwei Steine zusammen schlägt) [Link] Calls: Contact call resembles many of it relatives. A short, soft "peeu", followed by a hard "check" (like hitting two rocks together). [Link]

Garden warbler / Gartengrasmücke (Sylvia borin)
Vogelwarte Gartengrasmuecke. Source: VOGELWARTE Vogelwarte Gartengrasmuecke.jpg Profile 		Song Hard to distinguish from mönchsgrasmücke/black cap. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC728379 - Garden Warbler - Sylvia borin - song.png (song)
 Song: Sprudelnd, orgelnd, die längsten Strophen aller hiesigen Grasmücken. Mit vielen reinen, volltönenden Tönen. Ohne Überschlag der Mönchsgrasmücke. [Link] Song: Song: a full bodied, flowing, melodious stream of notes, distinguished by its almost constant, warbled quality and lack of clear whistling notes (see Blackcap). Tempo is fairly even. Beware confusion possibility with occasional subsong of Blackcap that never reaches the whistling part! Call a nasal "che". [Link] Calls: Alarm call a hard "check", and a hoarse "tcherr". [Link]
Icterine warbler / Gelbspötter (Hippolais icterina)
Wikipedia: Icterine warbler Source: OTHER 1200px-Hippolais_icterina2.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Agricultural
endangered 		Song Short bits 4-8 notes, sometimes with a little pause, overall a greenfinch feel. Some whoops, some chucks like a great tit, some bits like a house sparrow, even a meow. BirdLife Schweiz says full of vigor, includes some mis-tones and creaky calls; eBird says Song is fast, loud, and melodious with lots of mimicry.Can sing low (2k) or high (10k) ♫ XC772854 - Icterine Warbler - Hippolais icterina - song, recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC772854 - Icterine Warbler - Hippolais icterina - song, recorded in Sweden.mp3 (song)

 Song: Sein lauter, lebhafter und variabler Gesang setzt sich aus flötenden, zwitschernden und nasalen Tönen sowie Imitationen anderer Vogelarten wie Drosseln, Meisen, Schwalben oder Pirol zusammen. [Scheint mir aus Segmente von ~2 Sekunden zu bestehen.] [Link] Song: Song very virtuous and varied. Most similar to Marsh Warbler, but timbre and attack harder and more powerful. Tempo varied with many pauses, but includes longer, and more flowing sequences than Marsh Warbler. Song frequently interrupted by characteristic, nasal, high-pitched squeaks unlike Marsh Warbler. Master of mimicry. Imitations are often repeated several times before changing to melodious motifs or more "noisy" phrases. [Link] Calls: Contact call distinct. A hard, trisyllabic "che-che-fink" , or "che-che-weet" with upward inflection. [Link]
Improvised melodic: trill
Eurasian wren / Zaunkönig (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Eurasian Wren foraging in the reeds at the frozen Lake Pfaeffikon 2021-02-15 08.41.30 Pfäffikersee Profile 		Song High-pitched, melodic, very variable with many trills and whistles. ♫ XC554714-Zaunkoenig song. Source: XENOCANTO XC554714-Zaunkoenig song.mp3 (song)
Calls Sputtery/drippy/trilly repeated notes at 3-8 KHz. June 2022 heard check calls that were distinctly irregularly in their rhythm. ♫ XC195946 Eurasian wren call. Source: XENOCANTO XC195946 Eurasian wren call.mp3 (call)
 Song: Auffällig laut für den kleinen Vogel. Singt auch im Winter! Schmetternd, mit einem bis zwei Trillern als letztes oder vorletztes Glied. [Link] Song: Song surprisingly loud. A high-pitched stream of clear notes resembling Robin and Dunnock in timbre. Differs from those in showing frequent shifts in pitch with much larger register than Dunnock, and by the unique, numerous, interspersed long trills. [Link] Calls: „zerr“ (z-und rr-gleichzeitig) auch durchdringendes „tzr“(Gezetter) [Link] Calls: Warning call a short hard "teck", like banging two rocks together. Often repeated in series when excited to form machine-gun-like "firing". [Link] Similar to: Common chaffinch (Structure is similar but wren song more variable and often longer, also flatter)
Melodious warbler / Orpheusspötter (Hippolais polyglotta)
Wikipedia: Melodious warbler Source: OTHER 1200px-Hippolais_polyglotta.jpg Profile 		Song Repeats bits 6-9 times, makes pauses, but also sings like mad with a distorted chirpy voice. Sometimes sings a descending trill that could be a giveaway. Can sing low (2k) or fairly high (8k) ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC572815 - Melodious Warbler - Hippolais polyglotta - song recorded in the Netherlands .mp3 (song)
Bluethroat / Blaukehlchen (Luscinia svecica)
I had an ID via app for an immature or female bluethroat - which has no blue throat, but long legs and a relatively short tail in comparison - could be this. 2024-02-17 07.02.22 Laos Profile 		Song Often one little phrase or even a single note repeated, a bit like a nightingale? Occasional figaro? ♫ XC131272 - Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica volgae - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC131272 - Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica volgae - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song: Structure slightly similar to Nightingale, but tone much thinner and less full-bodied. A good impersonator and various imitations are interwoven among metallic, ringing sounds to form a complex, intriguing song. [Link] Calls: Call: "pju-check". Double syllable starting as a descending whistle, and ending on a short "check". [Link]
Improvised melodic: whoop
Common starling / Star (Sturnus vulgaris)
Im richtigen Licht schimmern die Federn. 2020-04-11 07.54.52 Luppmen Profile 		Song I find their individual song amusing, with its (long) whoops and weird noises. As a group, they're just noisy! ♫ Source: BirdNet 20200423_084133 birdnet 382 across from Friedliweid - Common starling.mp3 2020-04-23 08.41.33 Friedliweid (song?)
Calls I hear this occasionally and really enjoy it - a long rising 'whoop', as I call it', starting low at 1 1/2 KHz and rising to 6 1/2 KHz! ♫ Source: BirdNet 20210823_172609 birdnet 1968 - European Starling long whoop call - 2021-08-23 17:26:09 - European Starling - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-08-23 17.26.09 Fehraltorf (call)
 Personal notes: Frequently seen here, for instance by their nests under the eaves of one of the Toblerone houses. Introduced to North America from Europe by Eugene Schieffelin. Song: Song a highly varied mix of falling whistles, bill-clappering and various masterful mimicry. [Link] Calls: Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink". [Link]
Common nightingale / Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Luscinia megarhynchos - common nightingale in Wikipedia. Source: WIKIPEDIA Luscinia_megarhynchos - common nightingale in Wikipedia.jpg Profile 		Song Can be a sequence of unrelated weird but musical sounds - trills, churrs, human-like whistles - very amusing. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC505897 - Common Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos - song, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

 Song: The song is the best characteristic to separate it from T. Nightingale. [Link] Calls: Alarm call either a thin, flycatcher-like "weeet", or a Chiff-chaff-like "piuu". Also a characteristic (but similar to Thrush Nighitingale) dry, rattling, frog-like "rrrrr". [Link]
Improvised melodic: swoop
Song thrush / Singdrossel (Turdus philomelos)
Singdrossel Isle de Brehat, Brittany. 2019-06-16 15.35.33 Île-de-Bréhat Profile 		Song Paced like a blackbird, humorous mix of elements like a nightingale. Huge range, elements from 2-5 KHz, others 6.5-9 KHz. Can sing for up to 50 minutes, and a male may know 100 melodies in its repertoire. ♫ Source: BirdNet 2020-06-27 15.59.50 i think singdrossel birdnet thought zaunkönig by alpweg.mp3 2020-06-27 15.59.50 Alpweg (song?)
Calls One or two high chirps followed by long pause of 1-2 seconds ♫ XC570136 song thrush alarm call. Source: XENOCANTO XC570136 song thrush alarm call.mp3 (alarm call)
 Song: Klangfarbe ähnlich obiger Art [Amsel], aber jedes Element 2-4mal wiederholt, Pausen zwischen den Phrasen.(klingt oft wie „Philipp“, oder „Judith“) Einzige Drossel unseres Gebietes die diese Wiederholungen macht. Singt oft nicht von Baumspitze aus, sondern aus dem Geäst. [Link] Calls: Rufe :“zipp“, oft beim abfliegen. [Link] Calls: Most heard (but easily overlooked) contact call is a dry and very short "zip", sometimes given as a two syllable call "zip-ip". [Link]
Improvised melodic: rattle
Northern wheatear / Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Male northern wheatear, photo by Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Steinschmaetzer_Northern_wheatear_male.jpg Profile 		Song The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730221 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in France, just 2-3 notes, then long pause.mp3 (song)

 Song: Kurze, wechselvolle Strophe mit vielen unreinen Tönen. Meist von erhöhter Warte aus oder in kurzem Singflug vorgetragen. [Link] Song: The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link] Calls: „Tschack“ auch „hiit“ (saugend) [Link] Calls: Contact and alarm call a high pitched, sharp "weet", followed by a hard "check", like hitting two rocks together. The "weet" sound is much sharper than the similar sound in Whinchat and Stonechat. Wheater usually repeats the "weet" sound more frequently than the "check" sound. The "check" of Stonechat is less pure and more gritty. [Link]
Improvised melodic: fluting
European robin / Rotkehlchen (Erithacus rubecula)
Rotkehlchen. 2020-04-02 09.39.00 Luppmen Profile 		Song General: High pitched but also going low, e.g. 2.9-7.7 KHz.
Song: Only for a short period in late summer while they are moulting and inconspicuous do robins stop singing. Both sexes sing. [RSPB article] ♫ XC782997 - European Robin - Erithacus rubecula - song recorded in Italy. Source: XENOCANTO XC782997 - European Robin - Erithacus rubecula - song recorded in Italy.mp3 (song)

Calls Personal: A single note usually repeated twice. Somewhat sputtery. BirdID refers to 'a thin, electric "tick". In one source said to be used as alarm call.
Call: A variety of calls is also made at any time of year, including a ticking note indicating anxiety or mild alarm. [Link] ♫ I heard 3 or 4 scattered birds calling it in woods with underbrush but saw no birds. BirdNet told me they were robins, which I found hard to believe, but on comparing it with recordings at XenoCanto, I was convinced! Maybe they were telling each other "Don't show yourself to that alarming guy!". 2021-07-03 08.05.14 (call)
 Song: Song medium to very high pitched, with mostly clear tones with a liquid quality. Timbre reminiscent of Wren or Dunnock, but with a much more varied structure and tempo. Pitch ranges from very high to low, almost thrush-like, notes. No recognizable motifs. Often ends on a rising or falling pitch, giving it a "Chinese" accent. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a thin, electric "tick", often in series with decelerating tempo. [Link]
Improvised melodic: flourish
Common blackbird / Amsel (Turdus merula)
Amsel bei friedliweid. 2020-04-13 10.28.42 Friedliweid Profile 		Song Other: Gut zu erkennen ist die Amsel. Sie singt melodiös, erklärt Heller, «zuerst flötend und dann gegen Schluss so schnirpslig». Die Amsel singe gerne dort, wo sie gut gehört werde, etwa vor Hauswänden, die den Schall nicht schlucken. Ich wollte schauen was schnirpslig heisst, aber diese ist diese einzige Verwendung, die Google kennt! Der flötende Teil ist relativ tief, 1.5-3 KHz, der schnirpslige aber 2.5-7 KHz. (Schnirpslig ist ein schones Wort das der Redner erfunden hat - Google findet nur diese eine Webseite mit dem Wort!) [Von der SRF Webseite:] ♫ Repetitiver, einfallsloser Amsel den ich für einen Misteldrossel gehalten habe, dazu eine Kohlemeise der lmh singt und ich mit einer Tannen-meise gewechselt habe. Source: Zoom H6 2023-02-23 17.40.48 (song)
Calls Loud falling series of notes, unlike anything else you hear from a blackbird ♫ XC557335 common blackbird alarm call. Source: XENOCANTO XC557335 common blackbird alarm call.mp3 (alarm call)

 Song: Melodisch flötend dazwischen auch zerquetschte Töne. Die Elemente werden nicht wiederholt. Singt von Singwarte aus. Ca. 100 verschiedene Strophentypen. [Link] Song: One of the most appreciated song birds. Very melodious and resonant, with long mellow notes and a large register. Less high pitched sounds than Song Thrush, and seldom repeats a phrase. Timbre fuller than both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Well defined pauses between phrases, giving the song a relaxed pace. [Link] Calls: Je nach Situation, „duck duck duck“, „tix-tix-tix“ in rascher Folge, „srieh“ (auch als Flugwarnruf) [Link] Calls: Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle. [Link]
Improvised melodic: weird
White-throated dipper / Wasseramsel (Cinclus cinclus)
Wasseramsel am Wissbach bei der Grenze zwischen Appenzell-Ausserrhoden und St Gallen. 2024-04-27 10.10.00 Profile 		Song Wonderfully weird sequence of chirps, cheeps, growls. Elements often repeated twice. In a quiz, I mistook it for a starling. This recording reminds me of other water songbirds like the Marsh warbler and various reed warblers. ♫ XC512901-Wasseramsel. Source: XENOCANTO XC512901-Wasseramsel.mp3 (song?)

Calls Chirp repeated 1-2s. ♫ XC528686-Wasseramsel call. Source: XENOCANTO XC528686-Wasseramsel call.mp3 (call)

 Song: Song a mid tempo, staccato improvisation on contact call-like sounds. Not unlike a budgerigar. Both sexes sing, the female less melodic and more staccato than the male. [Link] Calls: Contact call a short, metallic and explosive "zrreet", often betraying its presence perched among boulders or when flying up and down a stream. [Link]
Sings 30 seconds or longer
Eurasian skylark / Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis)
Wikipedia Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis). Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Eurasian Skylark (Alauda_arvensis).jpg Profile 		Song Fast chirpy improvization without a break, not very high, reminds me of a nightingale or a Eurasian reed warbler/Teichrohrsänger with the exact rhythm, but most likely sung in a cornfield. Or a Singdrossel that repeats its elements longer that that guy. Repeats elements 1-8 times. Sometimes buzzy/trilly. Can go on for minutes at a time. Ich habe es auch mit einem Amsel verwechselt, da er lang und melodisch, fast wie Amsel aber hört nicht auf. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC685846 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)

 Good to know: Aus dem Kurzjahresbericht BirdLife Schweiz 2022: Die Feldlerche, vogel der Jahres 2022..., ist eihne dieser bredrohten Arten, welche durch die Industrialisierung der Landwirtschaft ausgerottet wird. [Link] Appearance and identification: Somewhat like a house sparrow but 18-19 cm long, not 14-15, kleiner als Star. Ruffled head feathers. NABU says streaks on breast contrast with white belly. [Link] Song: Song a pleasing energetic stream of chirping, merry trills, interspersed with mimicry. Trills quite resonant with fairly full tone. Song usually given in flight high in the air. Less characteristic, shorter, weaker and more varied song when given from ground. [Link] Calls: Most typical flight call a short trilling "chirrup", with the end note noticeably lower pitched than the start. Also several other more cryptic calls. [Link]
Sedge warbler / Schilfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Plainish brown-white bird with black accents usually hidden in the reeds. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Schilfrohrsaenger.jpg Profile 		Song Constant stream of equally spaced sounds. vogelwarte.ch has a sample that churrs and trills, similar rhythm to reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger, so maybe that's what it was. Listening on YouTube videos, you'd call it percussion rather than song! ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC661577 - Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Gesang sehr ähnlich dem Teichrohrsänger. Aber nicht so im Takt. Bevorzugte Tongebilde werden mehrmals wiederholt. Des öftern Singflug über dem Schilf. [Link] Song: Song vigorous and varied. [Link] Calls: Rufe:“zäck“, „zieck“, „err“. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a hard "check". Anxiety call a dry and rolling "rrrrr". A mixture of musical sounds, expert mimicry and characteristic harsh and strident calls. Not as rhythmic and evenly paced as Reed Warbler, but varies tempo a lot. [Link]
Woodchat shrike / Rotkopfwürger (Lanius senator)
Wikipedia: Woodchat shrike Source: OTHER 1200px-Woodchat_shrike_%28Lanius_senator_senator%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ❑❑ Habitats: Agricultural
critically endangered 		Song Territorial song loud and varied. Often repeats phrases and includes mimicry. Alternative [non-territorial] song a more continuous chattering with impressive mimicry similar to Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, and difficult to separate from those. [Link] ♫ XC722557 - Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator - song. Source: XENOCANTO XC722557 - Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Territorial song loud and varied. Often repeats phrases and includes mimicry. Alternativ song a more continuous chattering with impressive mimicry similar to Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, and difficult to separate from those. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a dry, magpie-like "che-che-che-che-che", or a nasal, ascending oriole-like "weea". [Link]
Red-backed shrike / Neuntöter (Lanius collurio)
Neutoeter bei La Sauge 2022-06-25 08.43.44 Profile 		Song Reminds me a bit of a Rohrsaenger/Feldlerche with its short, varied bits. BirdID says Song surprisingly varied with many expert imitations of small passerines, interwoven with bell-like ringing and dry chirping sounds. May be confusing and hard to identify if bird not seen. Song not very loud, but phrases can be very long. 'May be confusing' - tell me about it! What's not confusing about trying to tell apart 422 species of Swiss birds! ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC570644 - Marsh Warbler - Acrocephalus palustris - song.mp3 (song)

 Personal notes: Saw this masked bandit at Maienfeld. I was also told where to find it in the hedges at the Stille Reuss in Rottenschwil. Similar to: Marsh warbler (Sounds like a more melodic, less staccato marsh warbler to me, see above.) , Eurasian skylark (Reminds me a a Skylark (Feldlerche) with its short, varied bits.)
Alpine accentor / Alpenbraunelle (Prunella collaris)
Wikipedia: Alpine accentor Source: OTHER Alpine_accentor_saganta.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
 Song Fast, long, chirpy ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC688398 - Alpine Accentor - Prunella collaris - long song recorded in France.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song is a varied stream of melodious and chattering notes, more resembling skylark than the much higher pitched Dunnock. [Link] Calls: Most common call a noisy "tchrt", often repeated in short, retarding series. Also has a more pleasant, ringing Snow Bunting-like "prrrriitt". [Link]
Eurasian siskin / Erlenzeisig (Spinus spinus)
Erlenzeisig bei Rapperswil. 2021-02-12 13.07.42 Rapperswil Profile 		Song bird-song.ch sagt Gesang zwitschernd und trillernd und aehnlich wie Girlitz - ich finde auch, es hat das hohe chaotische von den mit ab und zu was rohem. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC714393 - Eurasian Siskin - Spinus spinus.mp3 (song)

 Song: Distinct calls and song. The contact call is also prominent in the improvised song. Other typical sounds in the song includes a peculiar wheeze, like someone sucking their teeth, and lots of expert mimicry. [Link] Calls: Most often heard is the sharp and disyllabic contact call: "doo-lee", with both notes descending. Sometimes given a in monosyllabic manner "dlyy". [Link]
Sings 30 seconds or longer: rasp
Great reed warbler / Drosselrohrsänger (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Brown-white bird usually hidden in the reeds. 2022-05-21 10.39.42 Profile 		Song General: Sounds to me like croak cheep cheep! Listening on YouTube videos, you'd call it percussion rather than song!
Song: In Vergleich zu Teichrohrsänger langsamer und lauter. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC661392 - Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus - song.mp3 (song)

 Personal notes: Zuerst in Bolle Magadino gesehen und gehoert. Song: Gesang ähnlich Teichrohrsänger, aber viel lauter, Tonhöhenunterschiede 2-3 Oktaven. Karre-Kit-Sänger.. Sehr taktmässig. [Link] Song: Song similar to Reed Warbler in timbre, but much deeper and slower. [Link] Calls: Rufe:“kerr“ (tief), „ tek“ [Link] Calls: Contact call a grating, dry "kirrrat", where each rolling r is discernable. Fairly concise motifs typically consisting of two deep mono- or disyllabic notes followed by a few higher tones. I.e: "kerek kerek, trii trii trii". Clamorous Reed Warbler differs in more diffuse motifs. [Link]
Sings 30 seconds or longer: weird
Eurasian reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Teichrohrsaenger wahrscheinlich. 2021-05-04 09.21.14 Profile 		Song Weird, squeaky, urgent. Slower than Sumpfrohrsaenger. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC653035 - Eurasian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Gleichmässiges Tempo! Man kann den Takt schlagen dazu.(Metronomsänger) Oft 2-3x wiederholte kurze Motive. Viele schnarrende Töne. [Link] Song: By far easiest to identify by song: Characteristic, almost metric and even rhythm, very different from Sedge Warbler. Squeaky timbre with many, almost bizarre, harmonics. Phrases generally repeated 2-3 times. [Link] Calls: Rufe:“tsche, tschkt , schreeh, tschrä“,“err“ [Link] Calls: Alarm call a harsh, dry and rolling "kraaaat". [Link] Similar to: Marsh warbler (Schnell wechselnde kurze Themen wie Sumpfrohrsänger aber in exaktem Takt (und bei uns frueher als der Sumpfrohrsänger). [Link])
Marsh warbler / Sumpfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus palustris)
Sumpfrohrsaenger wahrscheinlich. 2021-05-04 08.12.50 Flachsee am Reuss Profile 		Song Weird, squeaky, urgent, more variable than reed warbler, with imitations of European and African birds. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC728884 - Marsh Warbler - Acrocephalus palustris - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Der Virtuose unter den Rohrsängern! Meisterhafter Imitator anderer Vogelstimmen. Viele wirbelnde und zwirlende Laute, wenig schnarrende. Variable Tempi. [Link] Song: Song extremely varied and full of mimicry of both European and African species. Up to 75 species imitated by the same bird. Phrases often repeated 2-4 times, and different phrases may overlap. Nevertheless, clearly defined phrases with marked pauses. Sometimes more flowing streams of notes, but less so than Icterine Warbler. Most similar to Icterine and Blyth's Reed Warbler. Softer timbre than Icterine, and not so loud. [Link] Calls: Sehr ähnlich der obigen Art [Teichrohrsänger]. [Link] Calls: More defined pauses and staccato tempo, and lacks Icterine Warbler's nasal high-pitched calls. Differs from Blyth's Reed Warbler in fewer repetitions of each phrase, and lack of said species' whistling, arpeggio-like calls. Typical sequence is a hoarse, drawn "ti-chaaa". Alarm call a short "chepp" with clipped ending. [Link]
Sings 5-19 seconds
European serin / Girlitz (Serinus serinus)
Wikipedia Girlitz Serinus serinus. Von Andreas Trepte - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Girlitz_Serinus_serinus.jpg Profile 		Song Song: Weird hectic song, and you'll probably hear them but not see them, which is a shame, because they're a colorful yellow bird. The song seems to defy description - described variously as the jingling of a bunch of keys, like crushing glass or the pouring of broken glass (the German Wikipedia refers to a nickname 'Glasscutter'), the sound of a cork twising in a bottle (Thomas Seilnacht on digitalefolien.ch), and one source I can no longer find talked about a ruined cassette tape. A Portuguese web site aptly calls it 'a high-pitched and fast rambled sum of indistinctive elements', and U. Cornell's ebird.org calls it frantically fast, oiseaux-birds.com 'a prolonged, wheezy, chirping', beautyofbirds.com 'a buzzing trill'.
Das Gesangsrepertoire umfasst über 50 komplexe Silben, die in einem sehr schnellen Tempo und einer sehr stereotypen Reihenfolge eigene Lieder bilden. Starke Variationen finden sich im Übergang von einer Tour (zusammenhängenden Abfolge von Silben, also (Teil-)Strophe) in eine andere (Modulation). Das Gesangsrepertoire ist unter den Stieglitzartigen (Carduelinae) einzigartig.[1] Zudem umfasst es eine variable Menge an Silben, die auch im Gesang anderer Vögel verwendet werden. Es konnte bewiesen werden, dass die Komposition des Repertoires geographisch variiert. [Wikipedia setzt sich ernsthaft mit dem Gesang auseinander] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC637940 - European Serin - Serinus serinus - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song a hectic, jingling, continuous trill, like the pouring of broken glass. The highest notes are constantly modulated to form vague motifs. Timbre comparable to Corn Bunting. [Link] Calls: Ringing trill also used as contact call, with slightly falling pitch "trrilrlitlitlit". Alarm call a short, redpoll-like "weee-eeet", with an accented high-pitched middle part. [Link]
Eurasian penduline-tit / Beutelmeise (Remiz pendulinus)
Wikipedia: Eurasian penduline-tit Source: OTHER Remiz_pendulinus_3_%28Martin_Mecnarowski%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Wetland
vulnerable 		Song Nabu: In den Gesang werden viele Pausen, Triller und Rufe eingebaut. [Link] ♫ XC357228 - Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus - song, 3 second melody mixed with occasional swoop calls. Source: XENOCANTO XC357228 - Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus - song, 3 second melody mixed with occasional swoop calls.mp3 (song)

 Calls: Call a sharp clear high pitched whistle "pju-eee-uu", with the middle part accented and with a raised pitch Or just an all descending whistle "pjuuuuuuu". [Link]
Citril finch / Zitronenzeisig (Carduelis citrinella)
Zitronenzeisig. 2023-05-27 09.55.48 Amden Hinder Hoechi Profile 		Song Wild warbling of about 7 seconds ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC372554 - Citril Finch - Carduelis citrinella - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Wikipedia sagt ähnelt dem Gesang des Stieglitzes, in Aufbau und Tonfolge auch dem Girlitz. Song: Scheint nicht viel zu singen - XenoCanto hat nur 6 Seiten von Aufnahmen!
One note
European nuthatch / Kleiber (Sitta europaea)
Kleiber schwaendi. 2020-04-04 15.28.00 Luppmen Profile 		Song Song: Song a simple series of loud notes [Link] ♫ Is the brevity what makes it a song, whereas calls seem to go on endlessly? Source: XENOCANTO XC777051 - Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea, recorded in France and designated as song - a series of 5-6 whoops, pause and repeat, hard for me to distinguish from a ca-ll.mp3 (song)

Calls twit dwip A long fast sequence of notes - is it the 'twit' call mentioned above? ♫ Long fast sequence of identical whoops, possibly 'twit' call. Source: XENOCANTO XC129686 - Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea caesia.mp3 (call)

 Song: Other: The song is very variable, with rising and falling notes, sometimes with repetition of excitement calls. [Link] Song: The song is a slow whistled pee-pee-pee with many variants, including a faster version, and may be intermingled with the call. [Link] Song: Other: Song a simple series of loud notes. [Link] Song: Song a simple series of loud notes. [Link] Calls: Other: It gives loud calls when excited, an abrupt ‘twit”, only one, or in slow series, but often in phrases of 3-4 notes in rapid succession. But in great excitement, it utters phrases of about ten notes per second! We can also hear some shrill “sirrrr”, becoming harsher in alarm call. The contact call is a thin “tsit” uttered before to take off. [Link] Calls: The Eurasian nuthatch calls frequently, usually with a loud, sharp dwip normally repeated twice, sometimes more often if excited. It has a shrill sirrrr or tsi-si-si alarm call, and a thin tsit pre-flight call. [Link] Calls: Other: Very varied voice. Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link] Calls: Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link]
Western bonelli's warbler / Berglaubsänger (Phylloscopus bonelli)
Wikipedia Berglaubsaenger Phylloscopus bonelli. From Sébastien Bertru - https://www.flickr.com/photos/aigledayres/5911604938/, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Berglaubsaenger Phylloscopus_bonelli.jpg Profile 		Song Single note repeated 6 or 8 times quickly in half a second ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC720128 - Western Bonelli's Warbler - Phylloscopus bonelli - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)

 Song: Reihe(5-10) von gleichhohen Schlägen, ähnlich dem Schwirren der obigen Art [Waldlaubsänger], aber langsamer, einzelne Töne deutlich getrennt, etwas scheppernd. Kann mit Klappergrasmücke verwechselt werden) [Link]
Meadow pipit / Wiesenpieper (Anthus pratensis)
Wikipedia: Meadow pipit Source: OTHER 1200px-Wiesenpieper_Meadow_pipit.jpg Profile 		Song Single note, possibly rising at the end. (Or: long 4 second phrases, gradually louder then softer; swoopy or whoopy.) Sings in flight. BirdID: Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". - but what does a rock pipit sound like? ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC722919 - Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis - song.mp3 (song)

 Song: Ähnlich Baumpieper, aber ohne Zia-Rufe. Vollständiger Gesang nur in flatterndem Singflug. Lange Strophen. Mittelstück meist zart und hoch [Link] Song: Song very similar to Rock Pipit, but tone less full and more brittle. Lacks Rock Pipit's closing trill, and beginning is less "hammering". [Link] Calls: fast tonlos „ist, ist.“ [Link] Calls: Contact call a short "eest". Similar to Rock Pipit but shorter,cleaner and most often in quick series. Warning call a sharp, high pitched "tzeet". Also a rattling "trrrrt". [Link]
Water pipit / Bergpieper (Anthus spinoletta)
Bergpieper glaube ich. 2023-05-27 09.38.16 Amden Hinder Hoechi Profile 		Song Er singt überwiegend fliegend ein ein- bis zweisilbiges „zip“ oder „tsi tsi“. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC716570 - Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta - song, recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)

 Appearance and identification: wie ein grauer Fink. [Link] Song: Monoton, GAR NICHT BERGIG. Tsilp tsilp, gleich note, wiederholt sich über 10+ Sekunden, leicht schneller aber nicht zu viel. [Link] Song: Meist drei nicht scharf abgesetzte lange Tonreihen. Singflug. Mittelteilstück rauer und geräuschhafter als bei obiger Art [Wiesenpieper]. [Link] Song: Song slightly more melodious, often with Tree Pipit like glissandi at end of phrase. [Link] Calls: „fist“, etwas rauer als bei obiger Art [Wiesenpieper]. [Link] Calls: Contact call sharper and more drawn. [Link]
Two notes
Wood lark / Heidelerche (Lullula arborea)
Wikipedia: Wood lark Source: OTHER 1200px-Lullula_arborea_%28J%C3%A1n_Svetl%C3%ADk%29.jpg Profile 		Song General: Slow for a lark? Fast to me.
Song: Fallend dadui dadui. Or figaro figaro - picture Heidi in an opera. Wenig Variation. [Link]
Der flötende Gesang der Heidelerche gehört zu den schönsten der Vogelwelt und ist tagsüber wie auch nachts zu hören. [Link] ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769994 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - 2-note song recorded in the Netherlands.mp3 (song)

Calls Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording ♫ XC756161 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - flight call recorded in Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC756161 - Woodlark - Lullula arborea - flight call recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)

 Appearance and identification: Sieht aus wie ein braun-weisser Drossel mit heller Überaugenstreife/Maske. [Link] Song: Song: Distinct and quite slow for a lark. Consists mainly of varied, disyllabic elements, or single syllables repeated in descending, accelerated phrases. Starting soft and hesitantly, then gaining in strength and speed. [Link]
Non-singer
Jackdaw / Dohle (Coloeus monedula)
Dohle, Haus bei chiesa St Antonio. 2023-06-19 18.31.46 Bolle di Magadino Profile 		Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Strange tone, Almost barking or a gull cry. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC604997 - Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula - call, recorded in England.mp3 (call)

 Calls: Nabu: Ein hartes „kjack“ oder „schack“ sowie ein raues „tschräh“ hört man am häufigsten von der Dohle. Sie ist ein begabtes Stimmwunder und hat eine Vielzahl von Lauten und Imitationen auf Lager. [Link] Calls: meist angenehm klingende, kurze Rufe: "kja", oft mehrfach wiederholt, härteres "kjack!" oder gezogenes "kjaar". [Link]
Bearded reedling / Bartmeise (Panurus biarmicus)
Wikipedia: Bearded reedling Source: OTHER 1200px-Panurus_biarmicus_-Oare_Marshes%2C_Kent%2C_England_-male-8_%283%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Wetland
 Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Chirping ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC765306 - Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus - two types of calls, one-note and two-note.mp3 (song)

 Song: Song a primitive, 3-syllable phrase, consisting of contact call-like sounds. [Link] Calls: Usually identified by contact call; a ringing, explosive "tschin" with a characteristic "dirty" timbre. Also a hard and very short "pit", often mixed with the previous. [Link]
Hawfinch / Kernbeisser (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
Wikipedia: Hawfinch Source: OTHER 1200px-Coccothraustes_coccothraustes_Parco_Della_Piana_around_Firenze%2C_Italy.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Forest
 Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Found no references to song ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC712663 - Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes - whit whit tsirp, recorded in Sweden, redubbed by me to a call.mp3 (song)

 Calls: Most typical call a sharp and explosive "tzek", with abrupt, emphasized, cut-off ending. Quite similar to Robin, but harder, with each syllable marginally longer with a slightly wheezing timbre. Repetitions are slower and more singular than Robin. Diagnostic when interspersed with high frequency notes. [Link]
Carrion crow / Aaskrähe (Corvus corone)
Kraehe am luppmen. 2020-04-15 09.15.28 Luppmen Profile 		Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Graak! ♫ XC762056 - Hooded Crow - Corvus cornix - call recorded in Germany. Source: XENOCANTO XC762056 - Hooded Crow - Corvus cornix - call recorded in Germany.mp3 Germany (call)
Common raven / Kolkrabe (Corvus corax)
Kolkrabe am Aabach, Wetzikon. 2021-03-10 09.49.56 Wetzikon Profile 		Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Graak! ♫ XC779842 - Northern Raven - Corvus corax corax - call recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC779842 - Northern Raven - Corvus corax corax - call recorded in Sweden.mp3 (call)

 Good to know: Other: A flock of ravens may be called an unkindness [Literary names of groups and flocks]
Non-singer: weird
Rook / Saatkrähe (Corvus frugilegus) Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Agricultural
 Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Song: Also gives a varied song of soft gurgling and rattling sounds, interwoven with calls at breeding ground. [Link]
Non-singer
Red-billed chough / Alpenkrähe (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Wikipedia: Red-billed chough Source: OTHER Pyrrhocorax_pyrrhocorax_-standing-8.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Mountain
endangered 		Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Higher-pitched falling graak. ♫ XC417702 - Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax - flight call recorded in Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC417702 - Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax - flight call recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)

 Calls: Ebird: Gives a variety of calls, including a loud “chaw!”, as well as higher-pitched gull-like mewing calls. [Link]
Hooded crow / Nebelkrähe (Corvus cornix)
Hooded crow, Locarno Monti. 2020-06-16 18.19.00 Locarno Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Agricultural
 Song This birds doesn't sing, only calls. Calls Cawing is aggressive and more raucous than in Rook, with more rolling r's. [! [Link] Personal notes: Ich kenne sie aus dem Tessin, auch in der Ghisla Kunstsammlung. Song: Has a large repertoire of seldom heard calls, and even sub-song. [Link] Calls: Many of these calls are surprisingly resonant and pleasant sounding, and sometimes resembles Raven. Probably impossible to tell from Carrion Crow with certainty by sound alone. [Link]