Help Identify small bird - sounds like squeaky wheel

LyndaT

Hi. There is a small bird perched on a TV aerial when I'm on my way home from work. It is too high up to see exactly the size but I guess it's not much bigger than a robin. It look like it has grey feathers but warm colouring on breast. The most distinctive thing however is he sounds like a squeaky wheelbarrow wheel. I have searched online and found a black and white warbler on an American site but I believe they are quite rare over here. Can anyone help? I will try and get a picture next time I see him. Thanks very much.

Belfast · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:14 pm Post subject:

starling can copy sounds they hear including a squeaky wheelbarrow wheel.

"Starlings are great at mimicry, with examples including machines, such as telephones and car alarms, and other birds such as curlews and Pied Wagtails. Consequently, it's difficult to know what their song is other than a medley of squeaks, clicks and whistles. "
http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/starling.htm

Liparis · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

There is a small bird who's call is often decribed as a squeaky garden gate, I'm damned if I can remember it. I'm trudging through my notes. I'm not the best ornithologist.
Bill.

LyndaT · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject: Thank you

Thanks to both of you. I'll try and get a picture to see if it is a starling. I haven't heard him now for a couple of days so he might have moved on or is confusing us with a different call.
Thanks again. Lyn

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

Hmmm.... lots of birds can sound like a squeaky garden gate. It wouldn't be a Great Tit...?

LyndaT · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: Great Tit

Actually, that sounds very like the bird but completely the wrong colouring. I checked it out on the RSPB and found the Coal Tit which is exactly what the bird sounds like AND the colouring and size matches.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/coaltit/index.asp

Thank you all very much, mystery solved I hope.

Lynda Very Happy

hawthorn · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

The sound or song that a coal tit makes is described in the complete irish wildlife book as sounding like - teecha teecha teecha.

LyndaT · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: Coal Tit

Thank you Hawthorn. If you click on the link http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/coaltit/index.asp you can hear what I mean. All the best. L