today i heard, but did not see, killdeer (plural) at woodlake nature center, richfield, mn. i have become used to flocks of overwintering robins, but this is new to me. i have been a avid bird watcher since i was a kid. it is the reason i became interested in wilderness travel. for years i have tried to ignore the changes i have seen in our bird populations, many birds that were common when i was a kid are gone, and now spring birds are showing up in midwinter?

I heard reports of the cardinals doing the spring song already.

Too bad you were unable to confirm with a visual sighting which begs the question. Could the sound have been starlings?

Starlings have the ability to mimic other bird and animal sounds. Especially killdeer, spotted sandpipers, purple martins, and eastern wood-pewees.

I once thought I heard multiple killdeer in the top of a tree which in fact turned out to be a group of starlings.

Not saying you don't know your birds, just food for thought.

Flocks of starlings are hanging around the Twin Cities area this year.

starlings at times fill up the oak trees in my backyard, usually early spring. they are here now. starlings are expert mimics, (related to the mynah bird), they will mess with you but they usually interrupt their singing with their characteristic call. a high upward pitched whistle. they are never satisfied with just mimicking,also they sing, if you want to call it that, from prominent positions, they don't hide.

I thought I heard the chickadees singing their pee-wee song up here on the Echo Trail yesterday, which I think is primarily for mating. But they may start pair and territory formation this early every year. Time to start keeping phenological records so I can do some year-to-year comparisons of stuff like that.

quote Ho Ho: "I thought I heard the chickadees singing their pee-wee song up here on the Echo Trail yesterday, which I think is primarily for mating. But they may start pair and territory formation this early every year. Time to start keeping phenological records so I can do some year-to-year comparisons of stuff like that.


"

We have been hearing their spring call as well. My Wife and I first thought the call was that of the Phoebe until we purchased our first bird call CD. We just looked at each other and laughed when we realized our mistake.

Having a good bird song/call CD is really helpful, freddy. Now of course you can also find the calls in the internet, but I think the Stokes set of CDs is better than most internet sources. The Sibley iPhone app is not bad for this either.

quote Ho Ho: "Having a good bird song/call CD is really helpful, freddy. Now of course you can also find the calls in the internet, but I think the Stokes set of CDs is better than most internet sources. The Sibley iPhone app is not bad for this either.


"

Over the years we have aquired a fairly impressive library of CDs and DVDs, including the Stokes field guide but I'am never satisfied until I get that visual confirmation.

after a while you will become very competent with identifying birds just by their calls. many birds, rails,owls and vireos come to mind, are very hard to see, but they have unmistakable songs that are more than adequate for an accurate ID.

I have no Starlings around here this winter.

Yesterday, I heard the Chickadee spring call, and saw a large flock of wild turkeys yesterday, 3 toms were in full strut display.

quote jwartman59: "after a while you will become very competent with identifying birds just by their calls. many birds, rails,owls and vireos come to mind, are very hard to see, but they have unmistakable songs that are more than adequate for an accurate ID. "

Yeah, I like birding by ear. Often it's great to see the bird after you identify it by voice. But sometimes you can't, and sometimes even when you can, it's more satisfying to just close you eyes and listen. There is no reason why the identification by voice should play second fiddle to identification by plumage. The voices can be harder for some birds - but the plumage is harder for others, like Empidonax flycatchers.