Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Flight call description A sweet, whistled, upward-arched "pyee" or a longer "plew-wi". Rarely a burry "heee-drp" with a descending inflection.
Fig.1. Virginia September 7, 1993 (MO).
"Pyee" call from perched bird.
Fig.2. Florida April 24, 1989 (WRE).
"Heee-drp" call from perched bird.
Examples Diurnal
Similar species Sweet "pyee" call is similar to Scarlet Tanager's "puwi" but lower. Burry call with longer introductory section and less distinctly rising than Scarlet's. Some variations may overlap. Also compare with Eastern Bluebird. See thrush-like calls.
Behavior Primarily a nocturnal migrant but engages in redetermined migration. Gives flight-call-like vocalizations regularly during the breeding season, often while feeding young. Not documented to give flight call during morning flight or in night migration but presumed to do so occasionally based on the behavior of Scarlet Tanager. Nocturnal migrants have been heard giving "pi-tuk-i-tuk" call (N. Brinkley, pers. comm.).