March 12, 2026
Horned Grebe at the Celery Farm
My first ever here. And the spring arrivals are arriving! The grebe was No. 186 on my Celery Farm life…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
June 18, 2010
Monday Mystery: The Latest Word
The great debate over what bird species is the mysterious backyard "Beethoven" bird goes unresolved, though not for a want of suspects.
The bird has been heard but not seen (much), and it plays the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, bird-style: "Tweet-Tweet-Tweet-TWEET.
We asked readers to suggest which bird it might be. Candidates have ranged from Song Sparrow to Carolina Wren to White-throated Sparrow (just Google "Beethoven bird") to juvenile White-crowned Sparrow to good ol' Northern Cardinal.
We are hoping the bird song can be recorded so that we have something better to go on. In the meantime, I'll plead the Fifth…
The musical listener, btw, is leaning toward Ludwig Von Carolina Wren, unless I missed an e-mail along the way.
Thanks to all who offered suggestions, on blog and off!
5 comments
-
Following along with the reference to the “pastoral Symphony” (or maybe “Pasture-al Symphony) I’m still sticking with my cowbird male/female duet theory. Listen to “Female chatter and male song” at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/sounds
Still want to know HOW BIG! Was the song tweety, hooty, screechy? Yes, a recording is our only chance of success. -
‘cuckoo’ seems most appropriate for this mystery
-
Cancel that — that comment was for Symphony No. 6!
-
Not much help. but per Wikipedia “Toward the end of the movement there is a cadenza for three woodwind instruments that imitates bird calls. Beethoven helpfully identified the bird species in the score: nightingale (flute), quail (oboe), and cuckoo (clarinet).”
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
March 3, 2026
First Review: ‘The Peregrine Falcon’
I am pleased to share Booklist's magazine of my upcoming book... The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of…February 27, 2026
Revolutionary News!
On Thursday, the Allendale Borough Council plans to honor Founding Father John Fell, who was known as the "Great Tory…
5 comments
Carol Flanagan
Veery?? http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Veery/sounds
Tom Burr
Following along with the reference to the “pastoral Symphony” (or maybe “Pasture-al Symphony) I’m still sticking with my cowbird male/female duet theory. Listen to “Female chatter and male song” at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/sounds
Still want to know HOW BIG! Was the song tweety, hooty, screechy? Yes, a recording is our only chance of success.
sally teschon
‘cuckoo’ seems most appropriate for this mystery
Carol Flanagan
Cancel that — that comment was for Symphony No. 6!
Carol Flanagan
Not much help. but per Wikipedia “Toward the end of the movement there is a cadenza for three woodwind instruments that imitates bird calls. Beethoven helpfully identified the bird species in the score: nightingale (flute), quail (oboe), and cuckoo (clarinet).”