Identifying A Bird By Its Call

[shivvy]

I have noticed a specific bird singing in my garden over the last couple of weeks and would love to know what it is. I have looked up the call of my usual garden visitors but can't find out what it is.
The call is very noticeable and always the same. The same four notes. If the notes were numbered in terms of how high they were (1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest) the order would be 3 4 1 2.
Hope that makes sense?!
All suggestions gratefully received.

[Zacs-Master]

If you have a smart phone or tablet, there are apps,which recognise bird song.

[hc4361]

What part of the country are you in and what sort of terrain is it?

[shivvy]

Zacs - I have an app that play birdsong but you need to know which bird it is first. Are there apps that recognise the call? It would be hard to record it because it is in amongst a whole chatter/clatter of other calls!

hc4361 - I'm in Northern Ireland, rural countryside.

[hc4361]

How would you describe the call? Loud, fast? Is it repeated several times without a pause?

[hc4361]

Chiffchaff?

[gumboot]

Try using the Categories option on this website. You should be able to eliminate most of the unapplicable categories yourself before you start listening so it's not as daunting as it first seems eg you know its not going to be anything in the swan, ducks or geese category.

http://www.british-birdsongs.uk/

[shivvy]

It really stands out and since I've started to notice it I can't hear anything else!
It is quite high pitched. The 4 notes are sung within 1 second I would say. Quite high pitched ie I could easily rule out doves, crows, etc.

[bunkmoreland]

It might be a chaffinch,they tend to repeat their call most of the day. I'm in rural NI too btw :-)

[shivvy]

I looked up a chiffchaff and it def isn't it :0(

[shivvy]

I checked chaffinch again but it isnt that either. Both the chiffchaff and the chaffinch seem quite shrill and sharp/shrill. This 4 note call is more melodic and singsongy. It is soo hard to describe a sound!

[bunkmoreland]

This bit of the chaffinch call maybe? http://www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/2014/04/bird-song-chaffinch/

[shivvy]

Thanks for the link bunkmore but it doesnt sound like any part of the chaffinch call.

[shivvy]

It is just the same 4 notes called in the exact same order every time. With maybe 20-40 seconds inbetween.

[bunkmoreland]

Since we're in generally the same area I suppose,the birds i have near me are....robin,chaffinch,blackbird,starling,hedge sparrow,great tit,coal tit,blue tit,gold finch,wren,wood pigeon,magpie,song thrush and swallows! The robin seems to have a really varied call though?

[shivvy]

I have used websites and apps to go through all those likely candidates bunkmoreland but can't find it.
I'm wondering if it might be a specific call at this time of year maybe calling fledglings?
Or maybe a single blackbird who is repeating his own individual song?
Really don't know but I'd love to identify it. It really stands out from the other calls because it is exactly the same every single time.

[bunkmoreland]

Have you got binoculars in use? Sorry if thats a stupid question!!

[shivvy]

Haha - not a stupid question! I have been out with the binoculars trying to spot who is doing the singing but I can't find him. We are out in the country and there really is a lot of birdsong all day long.

[bunkmoreland]

oh,I'm in the middle of fields myself;-) Know all about birdy noise! Just thinking,could it be some sort of mimicry? The magpie maybe?

[shivvy]

I've ruled out the likes of magpies just because this call is so melodic and theirs is a bit . . .harsh!!

[Answerprancer]

I bet it's a blackbird. Sometimes they sing very simple repeating songs (when they're not making their alarm calls). We had a mystery singer in our garden for a few consecutive summers that I called the Barbie bird because it kept repeating the same five notes to the tune of of "I'm a Barbie girl".
I heard it singing one evening and got me binoculars out and spotted it on a chimney, it was a cock blackbird.