Date: 5/5/25 6:53 am From: Becky Bateman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin app vs. Mockingbird
Another frequent misidentification by Merlin is reporting a RS hawk when it
is a bluejay.
On Mon, May 5, 2025, 9:06 AM Brenda Kramar <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> 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
>
>
>
