Instructions
Identify the American robin by its musical song, which is a familiar sound in New Hampshire during spring. The song of the American robin is made up of a string of 10 or so clear whistles. These sounds are typically described as a "cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up" sound. The sounds are delivered at a steady rhythm, even though the syllables may rise and fall in pitch. The robin normally pauses between songs. The American robin's song is normally more rapid at dawn. A repeated "chirr" sound that rises in volume is often heard as well. This species can be seen in open gardens, woodlands and fields across New Hampshire.
Identify the blue jay by its musical "toolool, toolool" and "wheedleee, wheedelee" songs. The blue jay uses soft nasal notes when in close proximity to its partner, particularly during mate feeding and nest building. This species is found not only in deciduous forests in New Hampshire, but in residential areas as well. The blue jay is found throughout the summer months in New Hampshire.
Identify the northern cardinal by its "purdy purdy purdy ... whoit, whoit, whoit" song. Another song resembles a "what-cheer, what-cheer ... wheet, wheet, wheet, wheet" sound. Cardinals are found throughout New Hampshire and live mainly at the edge of woodlands or in vegetation in the gardens around houses. The male cardinal aggressively defends its territory.
Identify the American goldfinch by its high-pitched canarylike songs, which you can hear during early spring and late summer, when the birds are nesting. The first songs are somewhat rambling and continuous, but songs during nesting are short and precise. The American goldfinch's song is a series of light random sounds that sound like "per-chek-oree." During flight, the song is punctuated by a "tee-dee-de-dee" sound. You can find this species throughout New Hampshire in gardens, fields, floodplains and orchards.
How to Identify Bird Songs in New Hampshire
Birds communicate with each other through songs. These intricate combinations of vocalizations are typically used by male birds during the time they both establish and later defend their territory, as well as to attract a mate. Birds normally sing from a perched position, although they will also occasionally sing while in flight. These flight songs are often combined with particular flight patterns. Young birds which have not yet developed their flight feathers sing songs which are incoherent but which develop as the birds mature. Birds found in New Hampshire are identifiable by their songs, which are unique to each bird species.