During my local lockdown walks last year, I started learning how to recognise birds by their song and call, and it’s much easier than you might think. Winter is absolutely the best time to start because we only have our winter residents around. Once we get into Spring, our migratory birds will start to return, and the cacophony of sound makes it more difficult to pick out individual songs.
Robins
I found the best place to start was to learn how to identify Robins. They sing all year round, in the morning and late afternoons, especially on cold days. Think of their song like a silvery stream of water that pools and flows, pools and flows. They never seem to repeat exactly the same song, but once you get your ear in, they become unmistakable.
Here’s a good example: https://xeno-canto.org/604251
Blackbirds
The baritone song of the Blackbird is probably my favourite, slower and less piercing than other birds. They’re already establishing territories – look out for them on the tops of roofs on your way home from work or school. At the moment they’re still using their call, but it won’t be long before they’re bellowing their song from the rooftops.
Call: https://xeno-canto.org/699343
Song: https://xeno-canto.org/315147
Long-tailed tits and Blue tits
Birds that fly around in flocks make contact calls to stay together. This is certainly true for Long-tailed tits and Blue tits, which often fly around in mixed flocks from treetop to treetop. Once you get your ear into these, you’ll find them practically everywhere!
The constant chattering of Long-tailed tits: https://xeno-canto.org/25105
Repetitive Blue tits: https://xeno-canto.org/507910
Goldfinches
Lastly, another bird that flocks, and seems to prefer slightly higher treetops. But it’s worth listening for because they’re one of our most strikingly attractive birds, always a pleasure to see.
A charm of Goldfinches: https://xeno-canto.org/666118
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