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purple finch mimics?

17 years ago

Anybody have any experience with purple finches imitating other birds?? Was out picking up limbs in the yard and heard a vireo-like a red-eyed or a solitary-right above me in an ash tree over the house. I turned to find it, since this would have been an early one and the first of the year, and the only bird I saw was a male purple finch. I only glanced at the finch and kept scanning the tree but I realized it was all alone, no others at all. I really needed to get an up close look at it to confirm that it was the one doing the calling, but the minute I took a step towards the front porch and the binocs just inside the door, the bird (of course, don't they all) shut up and took off.

No doubt it was a PF but I am still unsure of what was happening. Anybody else experience similar behavior??

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Comments (2)

birding_nut
17 years ago
Many birds, especially in early spring, sing partial songs. In the case of the Purple Finch, breaking their song up often resembles a vireo. Cassin's Finches do it here in WA in which case they resemble Warbling Vireos.

BN
Konrad___far_north
17 years ago
>> No doubt it was a PF but I am still unsure of what was happening. Anybody else experience similar behavior??I'm pretty sure, this behaviour for this time of the year in your area could have been a courtship call, purple finches make totally different sounds, I got to see and hear this last year, I'll never forget this weird incident!

Konrad
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