Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Flight call description A sweet, whistled, upward arched "puwi". Rarely a lower, burry "hu-dee" with a rising inflection.
Fig.1. New Jersey September 30, 1996 (MO).
"Puwi" call from bird in flight.
Fig.2. Maryland September 12, 1994 (MO).
"Hu-dee" call from bird in flight.
Examples Nocturnal
Diurnal calling sequences:
1. Maryland September 12, 1994 (MO). "Hu-dee" call from bird in flight with Bobolink and Cedar Waxwing calling in the background.
2. New Jersey September 30, 1996 (MO). "Puwi" call from bird in flight with Rose-breasted Grosbeak calling in the background.
Similar species See Summer Tanager. "Hu-dee" call similar to Veery but higher and more sharply disyllabic. See Summer Tanager and thrush-like calls.
Behavior Primarily a nocturnal migrant but engages in redetermined migration. Flight calls have been heard regularly in autumn redetermined migration and on the breeding grounds. Night flight calls have been documented, but calling rate is believed to be much lower than in Catharus thrushes. Has also been heard giving "chik-burr" call in nocturnal migration.