La Sauge 2025 Prep Cheatsheet

Images and brief info about calls. A total of 27 species is included, 23 of them have been observed.
One note One note: weird One note: swoop One note: whoop Simple rhythmic No information about call motif
Name/Image Call mnemonic/description Description
One note
European serin / Girlitz (Serinus serinus)
Girlitz in Levanto. 2024-05-30 06:15:49 Levanto Canon EOS R7 24-240mm Shutter speed 8.625
ISO 2000
Exposure 1/400 Profile 		♫ XC938311 - European Serin chirpy flight call - Serinus serinus. Source: XENOCANTO XC938311 - European Serin chirpy flight call - Serinus serinus.mp3 Europe (flight call)

 Calls: Ringing trill also used as contact call, with slightly falling pitch "trrilrlitlitlit". Alarm call a short, redpoll-like "weee-eeet", with an accented high-pitched middle part. [Link]
Common swift / Mauersegler (Apus apus)
Mauersegler nahe Susten Golfplatz. 2022-05-21 10:09:00 Switzerland NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile 		Heard from high in the air ♫ XC564619 - Common Swift - Apus apus - calls. Source: XENOCANTO XC564619 - Common Swift - Apus apus - calls.mp3 (call)

 Calls: Often continued with a dry lower pitched "trrrrrr" before calling again. Very vocal at breeding area, and often a flock will call together. Despite being quite similar to Pallid Swift, the call is probably the best field character to separate the two. Pallid puts the stress on the ending of the call, followed by a quick fall in pitch (dynamics like moaning with a quick release). Plain Swift calls similar to Common Swift, but differs in slightly fluctuating pitch during the call, and a loss of resonance towards the ending (thinner sounding). [Link]
One note: weird
Water rail / Wasserralle (Rallus aquaticus)
Wasserralle im schilf am pfäffikersee. 2021-02-15 08:33:30 Fehraltorf NIKON D5600 ISO 1400
Exposure 0.002 Profile 		Everyone says they sound like pigs! ♫ XC943956 - Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus - squeaky call. Source: XENOCANTO XC943956 - Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus - squeaky call.mp3 (call)

 Calls: Another diagnostic call is heard from excited birds; a longer pig-like shrilling squeal, with waning repetitions. A bit like someone squeezing a rubber toy. Also short and sharp calls "kvii". [Link]
One note: swoop
Western yellow wagtail / Schafstelze (Motacilla flava)
Schafstelze Paar auf einem Feld mit Kühen, den schwarzen Kopf gibt's nur bei Unterart Feldegg. 2025-04-26 10:56:57 Bolle di Magadino Canon EOS R7 24-240mm Shutter speed 9.375
ISO 640
Exposure 1/640 Profile 		General: Single note repeated
Song: sperling ähnliches lh lh lh. Dachte die wären melodisch?? Nein. BL chirpy ml ml [Link] ♫ XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call. Source: XENOCANTO XC653784 - Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava flavissima - call.mp3 (call)

 Calls: Contact call characteristic and widely used; a sharp, drawn out "pseeeoo" with an accented ending falling in pitch. A variable phrase with two or three notes resembling the contact call in timbre. [Link]
One note: whoop
Willow warbler / Fitis (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Fitis am kleinen Wildertweiher - Feder sind halb im Fokus, aber der Kopf ist versteckt, schade, aber er war halb versteckt. 2025-03-30 12:03:05 Wildert Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 69/8
ISO 400
Exposure 1/400 Profile 		Whoop very similar to chiffchaff, etc. but starts at an even level, then ascends. ♫ Call recorded in UK, sounds typical to me, and spiced up by a yellowhammer in the background and several other birds XC444002 - Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus - call in UK, with yellowhammer in background. Source: XENOCANTO XC444002 - Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus - call in UK, with yellowhammer in background.mp3 (call)

 Calls: ähnlich oben, aber mehr zweisilbig [Link] Calls: Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hoo-eet". Similar to Chiff-chaff, but first part more drawn, giving it a disyllabic feel. [Link] Similar to: Common chiffchaff (Wenn Birdweather Fitis meint, ist es eher ein Zilpzalp)♫ XC656913 - Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita - call recorded in Belgium. Source: XENOCANTO XC656913 - Common Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita - call recorded in Belgium.mp3 (contact call)

Common redstart / Gartenrotschwanz (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Vogelwarte zeigt, dass der Gartenrotschwanz eher im Tessin und in Wallis gesehen wird Source: VOGELWARTE Vogelwarte Gartenrotschwanz Dichte 2013-2016.png Profile 		At least in French, this is called the huit call. Not very consistent in tone from one note to another. Some stick to 3-4 or 3-4.5 KHz, others 2.5-5.5. ♫ Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France recorded by Julien Rochefort - perhaps this isn't a good example as he writes 'An independent juvenile. Its calls are quite irregular. Difficult to distinguish from Phylloscopus collybita, when they don't insert the "tec tec" calls between "huit ...... huit"! But it was really a phoenicurus phoenicurus juvenile, easy to see, perched 15m from me.' Source: XENOCANTO XC146715 common redstart huit call.mp3 (call)

 Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz. Personal notes: I'd only seen them in Locarno - but I liked them! Later in our FOK expediton to cultural areas around Maienfeld, they were quite common. Also heard many near Frankfurt and Mainz. Calls: „Füid-tack“ das füid ähnlich dem des Fitislaubsängers, das tack schnalzend. (wie wenn man die Zunge schnell vom Gaumen abzieht) [Link] Calls: Alarm call a slightly drawn, Willow Warbler-like "huit" with a rising pitch, followed by a short, soft "tuc". [Link]
Simple rhythmic
Common sandpiper / Flussuferläufer (Actitis hypoleucos)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) probing mud banks in Kolkata I IMG 4169, by J.M.Garg - Own work. Source: OTHER Common_Sandpiper_(Actitis_hypoleucos)_probing_mud_banks_in_Kolkata_I_IMG_4169, by J.M.Garg - Own work.jpg Profile 		High-pitched, at least in Birdweather detection ♫ XC927032 - Common Sandpiper 2-note call - Actitis hypoleucos. Source: XENOCANTO XC927032 - Common Sandpiper 2-note call - Actitis hypoleucos.mp3 (call)

 Calls: Very vocal with characteristic repertoire of very high-pitched calls. Often heard is a disyllabic call, drawn out and slightly rising in pitch in the second part. This is often repeated in a series of rising tones in a cyclic manner, with approx 5 tones in each cycle. [Link]
Common house martin / Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbicum)
MerlinBirdID meint Mehlschwalbe. 2022-05-21 10:11:56 Switzerland NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile 		Heard from in the air, loud, with lots of chirps! Calls: Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee". [Link]
No information about call motif
Alpine swift / Alpensegler (Tachymarptis melba)
MerlinBirdID says common swift above, alpine swift below, seen from our vacation apartment in Locarno. 2025-04-28 07:41:49 Locarno Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10
ISO 640
Exposure 1/1000 Profile
Eurasian penduline-tit / Beutelmeise (Remiz pendulinus)
Wikipedia: Eurasian penduline-tit Source: WIKIPEDIA Remiz_pendulinus_3_%28Martin_Mecnarowski%29.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Wetland
vulnerable 		Calls: Call a sharp clear high pitched whistle "pju-eee-uu", with the middle part accented and with a raised pitch Or just an all descending whistle "pjuuuuuuu". [Link]
Great reed warbler / Drosselrohrsänger (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Drosselrohrsänger, Leukerfeld. 2022-05-21 10:39:42 Switzerland NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 1/1600 Profile 		Personal notes: Zuerst in Bolle Magadino gesehen und gehört. Calls: Rufe:“kerr“ (tief), „ tek“ [Link] Calls: Contact call a grating, dry "kirrrat", where each rolling r is discernable. Fairly concise motifs typically consisting of two deep mono- or disyllabic notes followed by a few higher tones. I.e: "kerek kerek, trii trii trii". Clamorous Reed Warbler differs in more diffuse motifs. [Link]
Eurasian skylark / Feldlerche (Alauda arvensis)
Feldlerche im Flug, Neunkirch. 2023-07-16 10:20:40 Neunkirch, Schaffhausen NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile 		This quickly-written call archetype may need review/enhancement. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC772869 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - flight call.mp3 (flight call)

 Good to know: Aus dem Kurzjahresbericht BirdLife Schweiz 2022: Die Feldlerche, Vogel des Jahres 2022..., ist eihne dieser bredrohten Arten, welche durch die Industrialisierung der Landwirtschaft ausgerottet wird. [Link] Appearance and identification: Somewhat like a house sparrow but 18-19 cm long, not 14-15, kleiner als Star. Ruffled head feathers. NABU says streaks on breast contrast with white belly. [Link] Calls: Most typical flight call a short trilling "chirrup", with the end note noticeably lower pitched than the start. Also several other more cryptic calls. [Link]
Osprey / Fischadler (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey in flight. 2023-09-27 12:22:08 Florida NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile 		Calls: Calls with sequences of short, soft and clear whistling notes. Often in series with rising pitch, then ending with a few lower pitched notes. [Link]
Common tern / Flussseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundo)
Flussseeschwalbe. 2023-07-08 19:00:12 Neeracherried NIKON D5600 ISO 800
Exposure 1/800 Profile 		Calls: Lacks latter's high pitched "tip-tip-tip" call, and the drawn out "kree-aaahh" call falls more distinctly in pitch. [Link]
Common greenshank / Grünschenkel (Tringa nebularia)
MerlinBirdID says common greenshank, probably non-breeding adult. 2022-04-12 14:52:08 Mallorca NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile
Common nightingale / Nachtigall (Luscinia megarhynchos)
Common nightingales - das erste Mal das ich sie gesehen habe und direkt beim Haus in Fehraltorf. 2020-04-19 07:41:56 Fehraltorf NIKON D5600 ISO 560
Exposure 1/1000 Profile 		Calls: Alarm call either a thin, flycatcher-like "weeet", or a Chiff-chaff-like "piuu". Also a characteristic (but similar to Thrush Nighitingale) dry, rattling, frog-like "rrrrr". [Link]
Purple heron / Purpurreiher (Ardea purpurea)
Wikipedia: Purple heron Source: WIKIPEDIA Purple_heron_%28Ardea_purpurea%29_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg Profile No documented observation ■■ Habitats: Wetland
 Calls: Pitch slightly higher and remains stable throughout the short call. Volume muffled and timbre drier. [Link]
Caspian tern / Raubseeschwalbe (Hydroprogne caspia)
Wikipedia: Caspian tern Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Sterna-caspia-010.jpg Profile No documented observation ❑❑ Habitats: River and lake
 Calls: Easily recognized by its very harsh calls. Sometimes likened to the sound of a plate of steel being dragged across a concrete floor. Similar in harshness to Grey Heron, but more drawn, with an accented middle; "Kraaeeet", or with a double syllable start "ka-ha-kraaaeet". Immature birds begs with a penetrating, sharp whistle. [Link]
Whimbrel / Regenbrachvogel (Numenius phaeopus)
Whimbrel at x. 2025-02-25 10:29:04 Lanzarote Canon EOS R7 24-240mm Shutter speed 69/8
ISO 400
Exposure 1/400 Profile
Savi's warbler / Rohrschwirl (Locustella luscinioides)
Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl Chiemgau. Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia - Rohrschwirl_Chiemgau.jpg Engadin Profile
Western marsh harrier / Rohrweihe (Circus aeruginosus)
MerlinBirdID meint Rohrweihe. 2022-05-21 16:00:56 Switzerland NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 1/1600 Profile 		Calls: Call: A sharp "kwii-uuu" of about a seconds length, rapidly ascending in pitch, and ending on a falling tone. [Link]
Common ringed plover / Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula)
Sandregenpfeifer auf Ende vom Damm in La Sauge. 2024-09-14 15:34:58 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge Profile 		Calls: Contact call a short, soft "koo-eep", with the emphasised second part higher and rising in pitch. [Link]
Sedge warbler / Schilfrohrsänger (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Schilfrohrsänger. 2022-06-04 11:48:16 Kaltbrunner-Riet NIKON D5600 ISO 400
Exposure 0.001 Profile 		Calls: Rufe:“zäck“, „zieck“, „err“. [Link] Calls: Alarm call a hard "check". Anxiety call a dry and rolling "rrrrr". A mixture of musical sounds, expert mimicry and characteristic harsh and strident calls. Not as rhythmic and evenly paced as Reed Warbler, but varies tempo a lot. [Link]
Yellow-billed kite / Schwarzmilan (Milvus aegyptius)
Wikipedia: Yellow-billed kite Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-Milvus_aegyptius_-Limpopo%2C_South_Africa-8.jpg Profile No documented observation
Cetti's warbler / Seidensänger (Cettia cetti)
Wikipedia: Cetti's warbler Source: WIKIPEDIA 1200px-37-090505-cettis-warbler-at-Kalloni-east-river.jpg Profile No documented observation 		Calls: Contact call a short, metallic, ascending "vitt". Often given in rapid series. [Link]
Northern wheatear / Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Male northern wheatear, photo by Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Steinschmaetzer_Northern_wheatear_male.jpg Profile 		Calls: „Tschack“ auch „hiit“ (saugend) [Link] Calls: Contact and alarm call a high pitched, sharp "weet", followed by a hard "check", like hitting two rocks together. The "weet" sound is much sharper than the similar sound in Whinchat and Stonechat. Wheater usually repeats the "weet" sound more frequently than the "check" sound. The "check" of Stonechat is less pure and more gritty. [Link]
Eurasian reed warbler / Teichrohrsänger (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Teichrohrsänger. 2024-05-22 18:14:47 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge Profile 		Calls: Rufe:“tsche, tschkt , schreeh, tschrä“,“err“ [Link] Calls: Alarm call a harsh, dry and rolling "kraaaat". [Link]