Red-winged Blackbird Dictionary (To understand Waveforms and Spectragraphs like those below, see our Picturing Sound Lesson. To see other species' dictionaries, see our Bird Dictionary) Okalee Song (o-ka-lee') 1. Given by males in spring. The song is given on territory. Its purpose is to warn other males off the territory ("This is MY piece of this marsh") and to attract mates ("Check out THESE cattails!"). Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Redwing's Okalee Song: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Chip Call (chip) 1. Given by males and females in many situations as a general contact call ("Hey, look! Food!") 2. Alerts group members to danger ("Heads up!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Chip Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Chap call (chap) Very similar to Chip call. 1. Given by males and females in many situations as a general contact call ("Hey, look! Food!") 2. Alerts group members to danger ("Heads up!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Chap Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Sputter Call [also called the "Teer" or Female Song] (chatter or sputter) Given by females when defending nest area or chasing off other females. ("Go build your nest somewhere else!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Sputter Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Twitter Call (long drawn out twitterings) 1. Given by both males and females during courtship ("Hey, sweetie!") 2. Given by females after a Sputter Call, perhaps to show nearby females which one is most dominant ("I'm queen of the marsh!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Twitter Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Whistle (downward slurred "Jeer") Given by males in alarm situations ("Look out! Here comes a human!") Look and Listen Waveform Spectragraph Listen to a Whistle Call: .wav file .aif file Recording courtesy of Lang Elliott Nature Sound Studios Activities Photo Courtesy of Ann Cook 1. Vocabulary Quiz. After studying the Redwing Dictionary, check your understanding with our Redwing Vocabulary Quiz! 2. Journaling. Sit near a marsh for 20 minutes listening to Redwings. In your journal or field notebook, record as many of their vocalizations as you can. Put a check by each vocalization that you record if you actually watch the bird making it. Write M if the bird is a male, and F if it's a female making the call. Also add a note if a male exposes his red epaulets while making the sound, or if he hides them. 3. Practice with Graphs. Each pair of spectragraphs and waveforms in the Redwing Dictionary uses the exact same time scale, but it's easier to read the time number on the spectragraph, especially when you click on the spectragraph to see the larger version. Reading the time scales for each spectragraph, figure out which vocalization lasts the longest. You can check your answer here. Discussion 1. Red-winged Blackbirds use both their sounds AND their appearance to communicate. Think of some reasons why redwing communication is so complicated. See how your thoughts compare with Journey North's ornithologist here. 2. Researchers have discovered a lot about Red-winged Blackbirds. Why do you suppose there is more research about redwings than many other equally common species? See how your thoughts compare with Journey North's science writer here. If you come up with ideas she hasn't thought of, write to us at our feedback form! Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form