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Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland 16 May 2010 0921h Territorial song from scrubby, hawthorn hedgerow in mixed pastoral and arable (barley) farmland. [File name: yellowhammer0516092145] Yellowhammer1 The course of an old railway line between Knockentiber and Springside in Ayrshire provides some good scrubby habitat for Yellowhammers (Emberiza citrinella). While surveying the territorial males there last May, I heard one bird that was singing two song types which were alternated almost one after the other. Most of the birds in this area sing about eight strophes (or deliveries) per minute and stick to one song types for quite long periods, though occasionally dropping the final ‘cheese’ phrase. Listen to this excerpt of a recording below of this bird and you’ll see what I mean. The first strophe I’ve termed the ‘Fast High’ song type/strophe and the second, the ‘Slow Low’ song type/strophe. See the two sonograms below illustrating this. Another element in the song that is quite difficult to detect in the field with the human ear (and while listening to playback of recordings) is the very short (0.04 secs) and high pitched (up to 8 kHz) element that immediately proceeds the rattle. Its visible on the sonogram but see if you can pick it out in the recording.
Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland 16 May 2010 0921h The ‘Fast High’ strophe is around 1.84 seconds with the first phrase comprised of a rattle of 10-11 syllables spanning 4.22-6.76 kHz and lasting 1.07 secs. The second phrase – just a single element, and the familiar ‘cheese’ of the popular British mnemonic for this species – is around 4.85 kHz and lasting 0.68 secs. (Willow Warbler in the background). [File name: yelham05160921fasthighstrophe] Yellowhammer2
Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland 16 May 2010 0921h The ‘Slow Low’ strophe is longer at around 2.11 seconds with usually 12 lower-pitched rattles spanning 3.07-5.04 kHz and lasting 1.37 secs. The cheese phrase is also lower pitched at 4.4 kHz, lasting 0.55 sec. (Willow Warbler in the background). [File name: yelham05160921slowlowstrophe] Yellowhammer3
Teremiski, Bialowieza Forest, Poland 53º 27' 10.1'' N 22º 37' 16.6'' E 28 June 2009, 0900h Territorial song; this bird regularly followed the usual delivery with an additional, more rarely heard high-pitched 'tseee' note rising to 9.1 kHz. [File name: yellowhammer280609teremiski] Yellowhammer4
Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland Apr 1999 Territorial song from overgrown hawthorn hedgerow, with calls from a more distant bird
Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland Apr 1999 Shorter, incomplete song with terminal 'cheese' note omitted, same individual as above
Knockentiber - Springside Disused Railway Line, Ayrshire, Scotland Apr 1999 Calls from overgrown hawthorn hedgerow
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