White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Flight call description A long, sweet "tseedt", typically with a sibilant trill toward the end.
Fig.1. New Jersey November 23, 1997 (MO).
Perched bird.
Similar species Similar to Song and Fox Sparrows but not rising, typically longer, and usually with a distinctive sibilant trill toward the end.
Behavior Nocturnal migrant. Gives flight call regularly while perched during the day, particularly around dawn and dusk, and during nocturnal migration.
Spectrographic description Measured calls (N=21) were 114.1-189.8 (162.2) mS in duration and in the 6.6-11.1 (7.2-9.5) kHz frequency range. The frequency track was single or double-banded and was very gently upward-arched, typically with the high point at the beginning and the low point in the middle. There were typically 1-5 (2.5) prominent modulations (rarely reduced to an irregular squiggle) with a spacing of 18.5-34 (27) mS between humps and a depth of 0.6-1.7 (1.1) kHz.