Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus
Flight call description A high, usually slightly descending "ssees" with a delicate tinny quality.
Fig.1. New Jersey August 7, 2001 (MO).
Perched bird.
Similar species Typically longer and more descending than Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, but some overlap may exist. Grasshopper and Seaside Sparrows are similar but have less of a tinny sound and not usually descending. See LeConte's Sparrow and descending seeps.
Behavior Nocturnal migrant. Gives flight call regularly while perched, particularly around dawn and dusk and during nocturnal migration. Also intersperses flight call in flight song.
Spectrographic description Measured calls (N=20) were 115.6-219.7 (169.5) mS in duration and in the 6.4-10.6 (7.4-9.5) kHz frequency range. The frequency track was double-banded (lower band sometimes faint or lacking) and descending. There were occasionally fine modulations with a spacing of 2.9-5.1 (4.1) mS between humps.