Does anyone know what this young grebe is doing? I’ve noticed this a few times in the last couple of weeks. It tried to climb on its parent’s back with no success. Then it put it’s head down behind the adult.

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

I agree with Jay – there are some signature phrases for Bewick’s Wren, in particular the bell-like slow trill, “ding-ding-ding-ding,” that appears several times (at 8 sec, 16 sec, 38 sec). I think that’s what Jay is calling “Song Sparrow-like,” but I find it even more similar to the ending of Black-throated Sparrow. The rest of the song is easily within the varied repertoire of Bewick’s Wren, but in my experience virtually every Bewick’s Wren, in the west at least, throws in that bell-like slow trill at random intervals during its song.

I am here in Wisconsin where the Cardinals sing regularly. It does sound like a Northern Cardinal, but there is something missing. I have listened to this a number of times and wonder what birds out west are singing partial songs for their offspring.