Yellow-breasted Chat Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song (auricollis)
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California, May 19, 1990Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller | Macaulay Library
Flight song (auricollis)
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Arizona, June 27, 1998Recorded by Curtis Marantz | Macaulay Library
Calls (auricollis)
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Veracruz, October 01, 2006Recorded by Michael Andersen | Macaulay Library
Calls (virens)
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South Carolina, June 02, 1994Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Males have a large repertoire of songs made up of whistles, cackles, mews, catcalls, caw notes, chuckles, rattles, squawks, gurgles, and pops, which they repeat and string together with great variety. Songs of Western birds may be higher in pitch and more rapid than those of eastern birds. They sing in morning and evening (and even at night during the height of the breeding season), either concealed in thickets or exposed on prominent perches within their breeding territories.

Calls

They have a variety of calls, including a distinctive harsh scolding. Females also make a gargling growl when disturbed at the nest. Wintering males and females give a “chuck” call to defend winter territories.

Other Sounds

Males produce a hollow, thumping sound during display flights, probably made with their wings. Females may also make this sound while flying, and may clap their bills with a soft, snapping sound when at the nest.