Find out who’s singing in your yard

There are so many great things about South Florida. The weather’s fantastic, the beaches are some of the best in the world, and the local cuisine is unbelievable. And the area is especially good for animal lovers. Whether it’s iguanas, panthers, or manatees, we have quite an assortment of interesting critters.

South Florida is also home to many different varieties of birds. And while the flamingoes seem to get all the local credit, in your own backyard you’ll probably see some much more common species, or you may only hear them. Use this as a guide to help identify them.

Blue Jay

If you hear what sounds like soft clicks, whines, or whirrs, you probably have a Blue Jay in your yard. Blue Jays typically sing for a couple of minutes at a time.

Common Grackle

Hearing squeaks, croaks, or high-pitched whistles, or something that sounds like a rusty gate? lookout for a Grackle.

Mourning Dove

Mourning Doves are pretty easy to identify by sound, as they have a very distinguishable coo. You’ll generally hear one soft coo followed by two or three louder ones.

House Sparrow

The song of a House Sparrow sounds like one long cheep or a series of them. If you hear that, it is almost certainly a male, as females don’t often use the call.

Painted Bunting

Not only is a Painted Bunting a beautiful bird, so is its song, which is comprised of short, musical phrases in a high-pitched tone. If you hear what sounds like two painted buntings singing at each other, it could be male rivals.

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal’s song is a loud string of two-part whistles that may sound like “cheer” or “birdie.” You’ll most often hear these birds in spring and early summer.

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbirds have a very distinguishable one-second song that begins with a quick note and becomes a musical trill.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wrens are interesting in that only the males sing, and they each could have dozens of variations. Their songs are comprised of quick whistled notes usually in three syllables and only lasting about two seconds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

If you hear drumming in your yard, chances are there’s a woodpecker nearby. You’ll know it’s a Red-bellied Woodpecker if you also hear a high-pitched call.

Northern Mockingbird

Just as their name implies, Mockingbirds are very good at mimicking the sounds of not only other birds but even frogs. Their own song is a series of phrases often repeated a bunch of times before they make a new sound. Mockingbirds can also make rasping or trilling noises.

The next time you hear a bird chirping at your home, listen closely and you may be able to figure out which kind it is in just a few notes. And if you haven’t been able to spend time in your yard because you’re worried about mosquitos, give Platinum Mosquito Protection a call. We’ll set up a misting system to help get rid of them so you can enjoy being outside year-round.

Our insecticides are specially formulated with unique emulsifying ingredients to result in a microemulsion that does not separate, meaning the system is truly automatic – there is no stirring or agitation required.

Learn more about how our systems work and for a free onsite consultation, just fill out our online contact form.