On a local bird tour here in SIoux Falls, SD, I once had a sweet lady  
along who asked several times before we headed out if we could see a  
Baltimore Oriole, as they "are so pretty." I told her not really a  
problem as it was early June and there should be some singing away  
along our route.

On our 3rd or 4th stop as we walked a forest edge trail in a city  
park, I heard a Baltimore Oriole singing. We all looked and looked for  
this bird as the lady became more and more excited with anticipation,  
as she could not hear it.

Finally, as this thread may have told you already, I found our  
"oriole"; it was a starling, doing a perfect--and I mean perfect-- 
Baltimore Oriole. Since then I trust very few bird sounds if I see or  
hear starling about.

We did find her an oriole a bit later.  But I shall never forget that  
"oriole" singing.

Doug Chapman
Sioux Falls, SD


On Oct 31, 2009, at 8:44 AM, Stevan Hawkins wrote:

> Rick:
>
> Add Common Nighthawk to the list of species that European Starling  
> mimic.
>
> Onward!
>
> Steve
> Stevan Hawkins
> San Antonio TX
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of  
> Rick Hoyme
> Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:45 AM
> To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
> Subject: Re: [mou-net] Creative Mimicry
>
> Starlings are incredible mimics, though occasionally the mix two  
> birds up.
>
> I've heard Starlings mimic...
>
>   Killdeer
>   Red-tailed hawk
>   Phoebe
>   Least Flycatcher
>   Red-bellied Woodpecker
>   Eastern Wood-peewee
>
>
> It makes birding by ear a little tricky.
>
> Rick Hoyme
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU] On Behalf Of  
> Pastor Al
> Schirmacher
> Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:58 AM
> To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU
> Subject: [mou-net] Creative Mimicry
>
> Heard this morning in downtown Princeton, MN (booming metropolis of  
> 4,000):
>
> Peeeeeeeeerrrrpheebe
>
> Presumably a creative starling.
>
> Or a late hybrid I want to meet:)
>
> Al Schirmacher
> Princeton, MN
> Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
>
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