Date: 5/5/25 6:06 am From: Brenda Kramar (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin app vs. Mockingbird
I’ve definitely seen Merlin take an imitation to be te real thing. And I’ve seen Merlin mix up very similar species.
- When a Mockingbird is singing, I’ve seen Merlin light up with all the birds that the Mockingbird is imitating. I’m careful with my own ear when there are Mockingbirds or other mimics around.
- I’ve seen Merlin identify a Yellow-Breasted Chat. In an attempt to verify that on one survey we used playback. This so-called Chat responded to playback. Eventually, A Mockingbird flew out.
- I’ve watched a Red-Eyed Vireo singing and watched Merlin ID it alternately as a Red-Eyed Vireo, A Blue-Headed Vireo, A Red-Eyed Vireo, A Blue-Headed Vireo, etc. I was watching the bird sing and watching Merlin light up as it did. Id is possible there was a real Blue-Headed vireo in the background that my ear wasn’t picking up? I suppose so - but usually my ear actualy hears more than Merlin does even if I don’t recognize or agree with the call.
- I’ve seen Merlin miss on a Pine Warbler vs Chipping Sparrow trill.
- On another survey, Merlin identified a Kentucky Warbler. This would have been a new sighting for the block so we really wanted to confirm that this bird was in residence. It was the right habitat so it was certainly a possibility. In this same area, we had had an Ovenbird and multiple Carolina Wrens in the past. We watched, we waited. We changed positions for better see into the area the song was coming from. We tried playing back a Kentucky Warbler song with no response. We tried an Ovenbird with no response. We did see multiple Carolina Wrens.We did not add Kentucky Warbler to the list.
I know that my ears are very fallible and the more I learn about Birdsong, the more I realize I might get wrong. Some songs are just very, very similar in real life. The way we generally use Merlin on a count is to get it running. Bird without it. Then check the list 5-10 minutes in to see if there is anything we missed. If so, we work our own ears to see if anyone can pick out that song. Often, we can. The cacophony of spring song means we just missed it. But regularly, even with our best efforts, we have to leave the bird off. Even when it’s a bird that SHOULD be there.
Merlin is great! I’m thankful for it. But I don’t add it it if I can’t independently verify it.
Hope that helps someone. :-)
Brenda Kramar Rice
> On May 5, 2025, at 8:32 AM, scompton1251 <scompton1251...> wrote:
>
>
> Birders
>
> Just now on my deck my Merlin app identified about 7 species from sound, including a Swainson's Warbler. I am .7 miles from our swamp and have not heard one there yet this Spring. A Mockingbird is singing his catalogue
> of birdsong. Could Merlin have taken an imitation to be the real thing?
>
> Thanks,
> Steve Compton
> On new ground in Dorchester, SC.
>
> Sent from my Galaxy
>
