What does the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher sound like?
A variety of Willow Flycatcher vocalizations can be downloaded below (format: mp3 and wma - Windows Media Audio). If you have the necessary computer hardware (such as a sound card) and drivers, as well as your WWW browser's helper applications (refer to your web browser's "help") set correctly, you can listen to these vocalizations by clicking on the vocalization links below.
The primary song of ALL Willow Flycatchers (of every subspecies) is referred to as fitz-bew. Fitz-bews can sound differently based on subspecies and geographic area (i.e., where in the U.S.), and can even be slightly different from one bird to another. However, although song pitch and length may vary somewhat, the basic song pattern is the same. Notice that a "breet" call is sometimes given between fitz-bews. Other vocalizations given on the breeding grounds include whitts (frequently used as an alarm call), brrr-kitters (an interaction call among flycatchers), and wee-os. All of these vocalizations can occur in combination, especially when a territorial flycatcher is agitated by an intruding flycatcher, a predator, or a cowbird.
MP3
- Fitz-bews and trills 1:15
- Whitts 0:22
- Fitz-bews 0:23
- Fitz-bews 0:23
- Slow Fitz-bews 0:56
- Fitz-bews and whitts 0:20
- Interaction calls 0:26
- Wheos 0:29
- Whitts and trills 0:16
- Whitts and fitz-bews 0:28
- Whitts and interaction calls 0:21
- Fast whitts and fitz-bews 0:22
- Fast whitts and fitz-bews 0:24
WMA
- Fitz-bews and breets 0:23
- Rapid fitz-bews 0:23
- Slow fitz-bews 0:56
- Fitz-bews and wheeps 0:28
- Fitz-bews, wheeps, and brrr-kitter interactions 0:20
- Rapid fitz-bews and interaction calls 0:22
- Weeos and brrr-kitters 0:29
- whitts 0:22
- whitts and interaction calls 0:24
- Interaction calls 0:26
The USGS developed an audio CD "Willow Flycatcher Vocalizations: A Guide to Surveyors." It describes many of the common vocalizations, and provides what is known about their context.
last updated: 5-30-06
Return to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher home page.