Bird ID

• Oct 22, 2009

• #1

HTRDNCK

Senior Member

The last several weeks we have had an unknown type of bird calling on our lease in Washington county. We've not been able to see one, but they are high in the trees when calling. They will call and answer each other the way crows or owls do almost in a response to each other. The call is so similar to a hen turkey it makes you listen real close.

It is definitely not turkeys. They are too high in the trees and the call does not have the raspy-ness of a turkey. Tone and cadence are very similar to a hen turkey yelping.

any ideas?

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #2

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

Is it a "knock" soundin` call, in a fairly fast cadence?

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #3

HTRDNCK

Senior Member

Nicodemus said:

Is it a "knock" soundin` call, in a fairly fast cadence?

Click to expand...

you could say that. it is very similar to a hen doing a locate yelp. just not raspy.

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #4

bigkga69

Senior Member

probably a blue jay, their not a true mimic but they can make a bunch of neat sounds!!

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #5

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

How about a rain crow. Proper name is yellow billed cuckoo.

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #6

bigkga69

Senior Member

it might be a cuckoo.....they make a neat sound!! i havent heard one this late in the year though....

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #7

HTRDNCK

Senior Member

bigkga69 said:

probably a blue jay, their not a true mimic but they can make a bunch of neat sounds!!

Click to expand...

Possible, there have been several birds heard answering each other with the same type call. At least 3 or 4 at once. They have also been hanging around for nearly a month.

Nicodemus said:

How about a rain crow. Proper name is yellow billed cuckoo.

Click to expand...

We have them too. The ring tone on my cell is a raincrow, i know that sound.


the cadence of the call is similar to the sound you would make with a slate turkey call, drawing the "J" on the slate. It is just not raspy enough for a turkey. The sound comes from high in the trees. Big saw timber pines....

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #8

bigkga69

Senior Member

Im sticking with blue jays!! .22 fodder if they get in my pecan trees!!!

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #9

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

I think I`ve heard that same bird call you described, but I don`t ever remember seein` the bird that made it.

Kelly, now that you mention it, I can`t remember hearin` rain crows callin` this late in the year, either.

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #10

bigkga69

Senior Member

I think they migrate....I dont remember from any of my ornithology classes but seems like they travel south.....

 

• Oct 22, 2009

• #11

HTRDNCK

Senior Member

Nicodemus said:

I think I`ve heard that same bird call you described, but I don`t ever remember seein` the bird that made it.

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I tried to run one down. Never could lay eyes on it. Very high. I'm guessing they are about the size of a wood-hen or a crow, based on the volume.

Ive been looking on the web at sites with recorded sounds. Nothing yet. It may have been a mimic, if thats the case there were several at one time making the same call over a good size area. say 30 acres.

 

• Oct 23, 2009

• #12

M

mutt

Senior Member

I've never seen a rain crow or heard one for sure either, but I read they do migrate to south America and their call was described as ka ka ka ka ka kow kow kow.

bill

 

• Oct 23, 2009

• #13

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

Here`s a good link that I use some.

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

 

• Oct 23, 2009

• #14

bestbucks

Banned

The yellow-billed Cuckoo can still be found in Washington Co. Saw one yesturday feeding on berries. However, he never made a sound.

 

• Oct 23, 2009

• #15

M

mutt

Senior Member

Great link Nicodemus, Thanks

bill

 

• Nov 19, 2009

• #16

djackson67

Senior Member

Flicker

I think it may be a Giant Flicker, Woodpecker family i think, this may be the same as Nic's Cookoo.??
The sound is a cross between a howler monkey and Hen Turkey yelp.
They look like a huge red headed woodpecker, almost the size of a crow.

 

• Nov 19, 2009

• #17

Nicodemus

The Recluse

Staff member

Size Matters said:

I think it may be a Giant Flicker, Woodpecker family i think, this may be the same as Nic's Cookoo.??
The sound is a cross between a howler monkey and Hen Turkey yelp.
They look like a huge red headed woodpecker, almost the size of a crow.

Click to expand...

What you`re describin` there is a Pileated Woodpecker.

 

• Nov 19, 2009

• #18

djackson67

Senior Member

Thanks, heard'em called alot of stuff, like the Ivory bill woodpecker, but i believe the Ivorybill is exsticnt.

I have 4 of these that i see every time i'm in my stand this year, fun to watch and listen to while the deer are not moving.

 

• Nov 22, 2009

• #19

crokseti

Senior Member

I heard that same thing a couple weeks ago and thought it was a turkey but after listening closer I could tell that it came from higher up in the trees so I got the binos out and started studying the trees and discovered it was a pileated woodpecker.