Total Species Recorded: 128

Earlier this year, I embarked on a new challenge to record 100 bird species and include the recordings on an eBird checklist. Although the goal seemed overwhelming in the beginning, I reached 100 species by May. I continued to record birds to extend that number, but the summer heat put a screeching halt to these efforts. It also impacted my momentum, as I haven’t been recording as much since the summer.

Despite this, I’m still enjoying listening to the birds. Before this challenge, I’ve always tuned in to bird vocalizations, but this year honed these skills even further and made me even more curious about bird calls I’m not familiar with.

For example, during a quick neighborhood stroll, I heard chattering that was reminiscent of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but it didn’t quite match. With no binoculars on me, I resorted to carefully creeping closer to the bird, trying hard to not scare it away. I had the Merlin app recording in case the bird flew off. When I glanced at the birds it identified, I saw that a Western Bluebird was recorded. I thought this was odd because I hadn’t heard a bluebird, and I assumed it was either an error or I didn’t tune into its call within the soundscape. As I slowly walked closer, I located the chattering bird and I was surprised to see that it was a bluebird flapping its wings, agitated with the House Finches surrounding it. This made me curious, so I looked up vocalizations on the Merlin app and found a matching chattering call that Western Bluebirds issue when upset. I was excited to add this new call to my growing mental library of vocalizations.

On a separate trip, I heard another unfamiliar call. I immediately launched the Merlin app to and went off to look for the source. I never visually located the bird (it eventually became silent and likely flew away), but I clued in to its call, mentally describing it in my head. It sounded like tidilip, which I knew was a call that a Cassin’s Finch made. There’s been a recent irruption of montane birds that have drifted into the valley and beyond, and I have to admit that I was crossing my fingers that I had captured a recording of one in this humble little park. Once we were in the car, I started pouring over Cassin’s Finch calls, but it didn’t quite line up. I then explored Purple Finch, which is what Merlin had identified, and to my delight, I learned that Purple Finches also have a tidilip call. Even though this wasn’t the rare Cassin’s Finch, I was excited to once again expand my mental library of bird calls.

I’m enjoying a recent Merlin update that now includes descriptions of the vocalizations. I encourage you to call up a favorite bird in the Merlin app and read through the various sound descriptions. It certainly helped me quickly identify the chattering Western Bluebird call and learn that Purple Finches have a tidilip call!