Warbler Guy, where do I learn about “reading” warbler songs (sonograms or spectrograms)? Is Warbler song easy to “read?”

Kathy, there’s a one-stop shopping venue for all your edification needs related to Birding By Ear for wood-warblers: earbirding.com
Here, Nathan Pieplow, an erudite sound recordist and expert birder, highlights many “ear birding” elements, including ways for you to easily read sonograms/spectrograms.

Please see his web site: earbirding.org and his recent book’s are excellent on this subject: a) Petersen Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Western N. America and b) Petersen Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern N. America.

The above web site is so good that it gets a top rating from Warbler Guy’s advisory panel: me, myself, and I.

Seriously, reading and interpreting sonograms/spectrograms takes practice, but after a while you can
see the elements upon the page that originally looked like gibberish make sense.

Ergo, you’ll quickly have no problems identifying a song sparrow classic song via its sonogram in comparison to a common yellowthroat’s, and so on.

Other resources for identifying birds by sound and “ear birding” abound…..Some of my favorite are books by Dr. Donald Kroodsma, who authored the classic:
The Singing Life Of Birds.


Is warbler song easy to read on sonograms? Some people find them easier to comprehend than others. I think the above resources will help. My opinion is that some sonogram songs are easy to understand and others are more incomprehensible.

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About Daniel Edelstein

1) Consulting Biologist (and Certified Wildlife Biologist Asc.) — Conducting wildlife and plant surveys for common and special-status species, with federal permits for Ridgway's Rail (formerly CA Clapper Rail), California Tiger Salamander, and California Red-legged Frog, in addition to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) general scientific permit, and CDFW general plant permit. Secure permits for clients who must comply with local, state, and federal regulatory measures. Since 1998, author of more than 100 Initial Studies, Biological Assessments, EIR "Biological Resource" chapters, habitat alteration plans, and planting plans. 2) Adjunct faculty at Merritt College, teaching all its bird classes to adults (see warblerwatch.com and its "College Classes & Slide Shows" area to note some of my birding class theme options). 3) Birding Guide — Birding Guide in Marin County, Birding Guide in Sonoma County, San Francisco birding guide, and California birding guide. (See warblerwatch.com and click on "Birding Tours" tab.)