Birds of a Grassy Field

Bobolink
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow

June 6, 2006
Fairfield, Iowa

You don't see the birds until you get out into the unmowed field of tall grass.

Even then, you hear them before you see them.

But only if you're listening carefully. The bobolink has a bubbling sound, but it's hard to tell where it's coming from. Some people simply don't notice it.

The grasshopper sparrow sounds like—well, a grasshopper. It's just a buzzy trill.

Henslow's sparrow is even more minimal. Imagine a grasshopper hiccoughing. Now imagine that he has laryngitis and can only whisper. All you hear is a tiny tsi-lick. (Hear him roar.) I recorded his song in Jefferson County, Iowa, on June 6, 2006. I processed the recording using Raven Lite software.

Here are som tips on learning bird' songs.

Text © 2006 by Diane Porter.
Photos of bobolink and sparrows © 2006 Michael & Diane Porter.

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