Date: 5/5/25 9:14 am From: Eddie Owens (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin app vs. Mockingbird
I saw a Chipping Sparrow from a distance and decided to play a Worm-eating
Warbler song. It sprang from its perch, darted toward me, and nearly took
my head off. Even birds make ID mistakes.
On Mon, May 5, 2025, 9:52 AM Becky Bateman <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> 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
>>
>>
>>
