The Careful Art of Listening

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Summer
Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp
Snowy Tree Cricket
The snowy is known as the thermometer cricket: Count the number of its high-pitched musical chirps in 15 seconds and add 40 to calculate the outdoor temperature in Fahrenheit.
When and where: evenings in shrubbery and forest edges; throughout the United States, except for the coastal Southeast and northern border states.
Listen 

CHICK-bree!
Scarlet Tanager
Despite its striking color, you’re more likely to hear than see this elusive summer singer. Its song resembles a raspy robin’s, but its intermittent CHICK-bree! call is unmistakable.
When and where: daytime, high in hardwood forest canopies of the Midwest and East.
Listen 

Fall
Katy-did She-did She-didn’t
Common True Katydid
Commencing in late summer and intensifying in early fall, the rhythmic choruses of katydids can be so loud that they drown out nearly all other sounds.
When and where: evenings in the crowns of deciduous trees in the East except northern border states, west to Oklahoma.
Listen 

Wonk! Wonk!
Canada Goose
No sound in nature says autumn quite so distinctly as the conversational jabber-honking of Canada geese winging their way southward.
When and where: daytime along inland and coastal migration routes throughout the United States.
Listen 

Winter
Peter-peter-peter
Tufted Titmouse
Shuttling busily back and forth between bird feeders and trees, where they stash seeds in bark crevices, the jaunty tufted titmouse is more vocal than ever in winter.
When and where: daytime in suburban yards and mixed woods from the Great Plains east.
Listen 

Hoo-h-HOO! Hoo! Hoo!
Great Horned Owl
Among the earliest of birds to breed, pairs of great horned owls call to each other from December through February. Males, though smaller, have deeper voices.
When and where: dusk to dawn in woods and parks throughout the United States and most of Canada.
Listen 

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