Listen
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About this sound
We caught a nest switch on tape; give it a listen. First, you'll hear the male singing (according to one of our bird biologists, the males "have an incessant drive to defend their space," so they often sing even while they're on the nest). Then, the female shows up with a buzzy trill, alerting the male that it's her turn. The male makes a few chips as he takes off followed by the fluttering wing beats of the female as she flies in to settle on the eggs.
Why parks record sound
The NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division monitors soundscapes in parks across the United States. Natural quiet is treated as a resource to protect, like clean air or dark skies: noise from aircraft, vehicles and machinery can mask animal communication and change the experience of a place.
More sounds
Warning Sounds
Yellowstone National Park
Spring Composition by Andy Willmore
Yellowstone National Park
Bison Eating
Yellowstone National Park
Big Anemone Geyser
Yellowstone National Park
Soundscape - Lake
Yellowstone National Park
Soundscape - Lake
Yellowstone National Park
Soundscape - Lake
Yellowstone National Park
Soundscape - Lake
Yellowstone National Park
Sources & credits
- Warbling Vireos by US National Park Service – Public domain