Brewer's Blackbird Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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California, June 04, 2000Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Song
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Colorado, June 24, 2018Recorded by Chris Wood / Macaulay Library
Song
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British Columbia, June 17, 2016Recorded by Dennis Leonard / Macaulay Library
Song
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Colorado, May 07, 2012Recorded by Andrew Spencer
Calls
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Colorado, July 01, 2011Recorded by Nathan Pieplow
Calls
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California, June 04, 1995Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
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California, June 15, 2012Recorded by Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Colorado, May 07, 2012Recorded by Andrew Spencer

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Both males and females sing two kinds of rather rudimentary songs. The first is a shrill, rising squee that lasts about 0.8 second, with a metallic sound. It’s reminiscent of the ree part of the Red-winged Blackbird’s conk-la-ree call. The second song is a nonmusical rushing gurgle, also lasting less than a second.

Calls

Brewer’s Blackbirds often make a tchup or chuk similar to the calls of other blackbirds, and used in a manner scientists have called “conversational in nature.” A more intense, slightly higher pitched version of this call is used as an alarm, to chase off intruders, and when carrying food for young. Males make a clear, descending whistle, about 0.5 second long, when they sight hawks or large birds. Quarreling females chatter at each other with a kit-tit-tit-tit call.