I never realized that, but they do!

Elly: Do you hear the same four note song, instead of the Old Sam Peabody/Oh Sweet Canada five note song? I'm wondering if this is a regional thing that has not been picked up (or maybe not considered important) by the Cornell people.

Claire

I'm surprised - I've read various reports of people asking what the "Beethoven Bird" is. Has no one else heard this?

Claire

I think around here they sound like "here comes the bride E bride E bride.....or maybe it's not a white throat? I definatly hear that song. Could that be a "michigander accent" for a bird? LOL! Hey who knows maybe thats where Beethoven got the idea?

When I was googling trying to get an idea of what the Beethoven Bird was, I ran across a number of sites talking about Beethoven taking inspiration from bird songs. I didn't follow up on it because I wanted to identify the bird in my yard.

I'm still not certain it's a White-throated Sparrow, I was hoping someone else heard the same song and had seen the bird.

Claire

I was just entranced by this song which to me sounded so much like 'Here Comes the Bride- Bride-Bride' out in the backyard and came inside to google it...landing on this post. thank you so much- I think yes it must be the white-throated sparrow that has this song!...as I looked that name up and found this video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umhKDlm7Lpw. Ahhhh it was such an almost heart-breakingly sweet voice....and sometimes shakingly shy coming from the brush bushes...but I couldn't see close enough to determine the bird. Hope she/he visits often and sings.

Thanks for the lovely video of the White-throated Sparrow's song, avaDarlene.

Lovely as it is, though, this is not the "Beethoven's Fifth song" I sometimes hear. I haven't heard it recently though. The white-throats are back in my yard now (I saw seven yesterday and five today - my Project FeederWatch count days) and I'm occasionally hearing the standard white-throat song ("Old Sam Peabody/Oh Sweet Canada"), but not the "Beethoven's Fifth" song.

It's still a mystery bird to me.

Claire

Sometimes birds sing just parts of their usual songs, or have a bit of variation. I've noticed this especially with towhees and titmice. I'm sure its possible with white-throated sparrows too.

catherinet: This may well be a variant white-throat song, but it's a distinct song, often repeated. I think last spring I heard the song with an extra note added but still "Beethoven"-like, not the standard.

I'm hoping to hear it again with the bird conveniently perched outside my window (fat chance) so I can photograph and record it.

Claire

I just found a video labeled Beethoven Bird Call that sounds very similar to what I heard, except that the last note is trilled, where I recall a single note.

Claire

I've also found a few references, this is one, saying that Song Sparrows sometimes make the Beethoven's Fifth call.

You have to scroll up to the beginning of the "5 Song Sparrows" section - the link brings you halfway down after the first discussion of Beethoven's call.

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Wed, Dec 5, 12 at 11:33

I heard the "Here Comes the Bride" all spring and most of the summer. I live in Maine. I think it must be the White Throated Sparrow. It bugged me for the longest time, but I can't come to any other conclusion. Also, Beethoven's 5th is not the same song, but that's okay. :)

Aubrie: You're probably hearing white-throats - they should be in Maine in spring and summer. (Range Map and sound at All About Birds site) They leave my yard in the spring and don't come back until fall.

I have Song Sparrows all year round and I'm pretty convinced now that the Song Sparrows are the Beethoven bird.

Claire

Could it have been a white crowned sparrow? I now around here, there last note is a buzz, and the whole song is sort of like B's 5th.

catherinet: I just checked the song of the White-crowned Sparrow on All About Birds but it's not it.

We don't get white-crowns here anyway, or at least very rarely. I did see a pair years ago (I think) when I didn't know it was rare and I don't have pictures. I checked eBird and they were seen in the area at that time so my sighting might have been legitimate. The Beethoven song I hear is common - I hear it every year so it must be a common bird in my area.

Claire

Thanks for your help, Claire. I hope it is the White Throated Sparrow so I can have peace. Haha. It bugged me for the longest time. I love it's sound. So happy. Hope I can see it, not just hear it, one of these days! :)

Thanks for your help, Claire. I hope it is the White Throated Sparrow so I can have peace. Haha. It bugged me for the longest time. I love it's sound. So happy. Hope I can see it, not just hear it, one of these days! :)

I just listened to "Beethoven's bird" on You Tube and it got me to wondering.........is it possibly a Towhee? I've noticed on my property that they can really have an assortment of variations on the "Drink your tea" song. I wouldn't rule that out yet.

catherinet: I do get towhees here so it's possible, but the standard towhee song isn't close to the Beethoven.

Claire - still waiting for the bird to perch on the deck railing and sing while I have the camera ready. Or even sing offstage so I can record it.

This post was edited by claire on Mon, Sep 8, 14 at 19:47