This is bird note.

Late spring and early summer are the peak of bird song.

And how do you go about learning to recognize the bird voices you hear?

Well, Roger Torrey Peterson, the best-known American figure of 20th century bird watching,

offered this help. In his field guides, he often provided a catchphrase to identify a bird's song. For example, in the song of

the common yellow throat, he heard wichity, wichity, wichity, what better way to capture the galloping

cadence and crisp quality of his song?

A male California quail song can be remembered as Chicago, Chicago, Chicago.

The olive-sided flycatcher's distinctive whistled three-note song has been likened to quick three beers.

How about this one?

This catchy song is often described as,

See me, pretty pretty me.

If you hear this, you'll know a handsome white-crowned sparrow is nearby.

In the east, you're more likely to hear the sweet wavering song of the white-throated sparrow.

It seems to say, oh, sweet, Canada, Canada.

Listen to all these songs again,

and find resources to help you bird by ear

on our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Mary McCann.