Spring Songs: Common Yellowthroats and Towhees

 

The Song of Solomon has a wonderful description of the coming of spring and summer: "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove  is heard in our land.”

Here in Nantucket,  the singing birds in May and early June are common yellowthroats and towhees. The flowers show themselves, but the singing-est birds hide. Most  of my walks (and my Polpis bike loops)  are filled with the "preet"  and "drink-your-tea"  of towhees and the "whichety-whichety-which" of the common yellowthroats.  The birds themselves are often hidden in the now leafed-out trees and bushes.   After many attempts,  I caught these birds mid-song.  Do you want to sing, now, too?

 

American Towhee