Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). 

The source of the mysterious clucking heard in woodlands.

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

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The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Eastern chipmunk cluck call by Wil Hershberger (ML100848)
• Eastern chipmunk chisp call by Wil Hershberger (ML305948)

Sources and more:

• Music of Nature
• Wildlife Illinois

Purple martin (Progne subis). 

The bubbly swallow that nests in homes built just for them.

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage
• Subscribe on a podcast platform
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

 The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Purple Martin song by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML508078)
• Purple Martin flying by Wil Hershberger (ML508082)
• Purple Martin call by Wil Hershberger (ML508083)

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition)

Northern mole cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla). 

The cricket with a froglike call and body just like a mole’s. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make.  

• Visit the VoW homepage 
• Subscribe on a podcast platform 
• Sign up for the Newsletter  

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Northern Mole Cricket call by Wil Hershberger (ML534520) 

Sources and more: 

• Bugguide 
• Sina 
• IL state museum entry 
• Songs of Insects 
• iNaturalist photo 

Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). 

The swallow with a white dot on the head. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage 
• Subscribe on a podcast platform 
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Cliff Swallow call by Thomas G. Sander (ML508112) 
• Cliff Swallow call by Thomas G. Sander (ML508115) 

 Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds 
• Audubon 
• Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson 
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition) 
• Sibley Birds East 

Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina). 

The sparrow with a song like a sewing-machine. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage
• Subscribe on a podcast platform
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Chipping Sparrow call by Robert C. Stein (ML509492)
• Chipping Sparrow song by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML509484)
• Chipping Sparrow “sewing machine” song by Randolph Little (ML509487)
• Chipping Sparrow slow song by Wil Hershberger (ML509486)
• Chipping Sparrow fast song by Robert C. Stein and Randolph Little (ML509489)

 Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Audubon videoguide to 505 birds of North America
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition)
• Sibley Birds East

Six Swallows and a Swift 

Six species of swallow (and one swift) are common in the Midwest. This episode can be used as a key to identify them by their vocalizations.

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage
• Subscribe on a podcast platform
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Barn Swallow call by William W. H. Gunn (ML508109)
• Barn Swallow call by Randolph Little and Warren Y. Brockelman (ML508110)
• Tree Swallow song by Wil Hershberger (ML508086)
• Tree Swallow call by Wil Hershberger (ML508089)
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow call by Gregory Budney (ML508077)
• Purple Martin song by Wil Hershberger (ML508082)
• Purple Martin song by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML508078)
• Cliff Swallow call by Thomas G. Sander (ML508112)
• Cliff Swallow call by Thomas G. Sander (ML508115)
• Bank Swallow call by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML508102)
• Bank Swallow call by William W. H. Gunn (ML508104)
• Chimney Swift call by Wil Hershberger (ML507186)

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition)
• Sibley Birds East

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). 

The swallow with the true swallow-tail. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage 
• Subscribe on a podcast platform 
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Barn Swallow (American) song 1 by William W. H. Gunn (ML508109) 
• Barn Swallow (American) call by Randolph Little and Warren Y. Brockelman (ML508110) 
• Barn Swallow (American) song 2 by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML508105) 

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson
• Audubon videoguide to 505 birds of North America
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition)
• Sibley Birds East

Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). 

The tyrant chattering over farms and fields. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage 
• Subscribe on a podcast platform 
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Eastern kingbird song by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML507701) 
• Eastern kingbird call by Geoffrey A. Keller (ML507703) 

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds 
• Audubon 
• Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson 
• Audubon videoguide to 505 birds of North America 
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition) 
• Peterson’s Birding by Ear 
• Sibley Birds East 

Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). 

The sweet singer with a sneaker-squeak call. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage 
• Subscribe on a podcast platform 
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Rose-breasted grosbeak song by Wil Hershberger (ML509806) 
• Rose-breasted grosbeak call by Gregory Budney (ML509813) 

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Field guide to hotspots and birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson
• Audubon videoguide to 505 birds of North America
• Peterson field guide to the birds (Fourth edition)
• Peterson’s Birding by Ear
• Sibley Birds East

Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). 

The mimic that sings in doubles. 

Voice of the Wild is a podcast about wildlife and the wild sounds they make. 

• Visit the VoW homepage
• Subscribe on a podcast platform
• Sign up for the Newsletter 

The following Cornell Lab | Macaulay Library recordings were used in this episode: 

• Brown Thrasher song by Wil Hershberger (ML508776)
• Brown Thrasher chack by Wil Hershberger (ML508779)
• Brown Thrasher whistle by Wil Hershberger (ML508780)
• Brown Thrasher hiss by James L. Gulledge (ML508785)
• Gray Catbird song by Wil Hershberger (ML508750)
• Northern Mockingbird song by Wil Hershberger (ML508824)

Sources and more: 

• Cornell’s All About Birds
• Audubon
• Field guide to Hotspots and Birds in Illinois by Colin Dobson
• Audubon Videoguide to 505 birds of North America
• Peterson Field Guide to the Birds (Fourth edition)
• Peterson’s Birding by Ear
• Sibley Birds East