In the serene backdrop of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, an enchanting encounter unfolds as the first whispers of spring touch the air. It’s March 14th, a day that marks the gentle shift from the silent, introspective winter to the lively, expressive season of spring. On this day, a captivating spectacle takes place — a duel not of might, but of melody. Two distinguished songbirds, a male cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) with its vibrant red plumage that seems to capture the very essence of life itself, and a male song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), modest in color yet profound in voice, engage in an early springtime symphony.
This 14-second video, garnished with brevity, captures a fleeting moment in nature’s grand concert, where these feathered musicians compete, not for supremacy, but for the sheer joy of song and the chance to herald the new season. The cardinal, with its rich, whistling tunes, fills the air with a repertoire of songs that resonate with the promise of new beginnings. Meanwhile, the song sparrow, with its intricate melodies that vary dramatically from bird to bird, offers a counterpoint that is both complex and captivating.
This auditory duel, set against the tranquil beauty of the Finger Lakes, is more than just a display of vocal prowess. It’s a ritual that speaks to the heart of nature’s cycle, a testament to the resilience and adaptability of these species. As these songbirds vie for the attention of mates and assert their presence in the spring landscape, they also remind us of the enduring beauty and mystery of the natural world. You’ll also catch the call of a crow and, in the distance, another Cardinal.
This moment, brief yet infinitely rich, invites us to pause and listen, to lose ourselves in the simple yet profound joy of birdsong. It’s a reminder that, even in the quietest corners of the world, life thrums with vibrancy and the promise of renewal. Join us as we delve into the story behind this melodic encounter, exploring the significance of song in the lives of these birds and the heralding of spring in the Finger Lakes.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
Beautiful
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I added “garnished with brevity” to the text.
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Very apt
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Seeing those crocuses (croci?) make me wistful for spring. We’re about to get hammered by our first proper snowstorm of the year in Duluth!
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We had some snow yesterday, March 23rd, that kept us inside as a caution. That was an interesting point about “croci” for the plural form or crocus, so I looked it up.
The word “crocus” comes from the Greek “krokos,” which refers to the saffron crocus plant (from which saffron is harvested) and translates to English as “crocus.” When words from Greek or Latin are adopted into English, they often carry over the rules for pluralization from their original languages. However, “crocus” is an exception to this practice.
In Latin, “crocus” is a second declension noun, which would typically mean its plural would end in “-i” (like “radius” to “radii”). But English has its own set of rules for pluralization that often overrides the original language’s rules. For most words that end in “-us,” the English plural adds “-es” to form the plural, thus “crocuses.”
Moreover, “crocus” has been fully assimilated into English and doesn’t adhere strictly to the Latin rules for its plural form. Therefore, we use the regular English method of adding “-es” to create the plural form as “crocuses” instead of using the Latin pluralization, which would result in “croci.” It’s also worth noting that some Latin words ending in “-us” do not follow the “-i” pluralization rule in their original language either, and “crocus” in Latin is actually “crocus” in both singular and plural.
The choice of “crocuses” as the plural form is an example of how English borrows and adapts words from other languages, applying its own grammatical rules to them.
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Lovely. We are frequently blessed with visits from singing Cardinals at this time of year. But even more ever-present are the songs of the Northern mockingbirds.
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Very nice recording of the duet, Michael. I hope we have singing birds here. I got to find out.
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I was lucky to have captured them.
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Crystal clear chirping, wonderful. 😊
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It’s always fascinating to hear the morning melodies of the birds, who have returned from their winter destinations.
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I’ve only recently learned to recognize the Song Sparrow’s song.
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