Voice of the Wild

Wildlife is all around us. Join Voice of the Wild every Friday to explore a new wild song. From time to time, we’ll also do a deep dive into wildlife science, news, and natural history. Subscribe for email updates at go.illinois.edu/SubscribeVoiceofWild.
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Latest Episode

Ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula).

The kinglet that hides its crest (most of the time).

Episode 29: White-Throated Sparrow – Voice of the Wild

White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). 

A big sparrow with unexpected biology and an easy song mnemonic. Look for the yellow spot just ahead of its eye, the namesake white throat, and white or tan stripes over the head. The white-throated sparrow...

Episode 28: White-Crowned Sparrow – Voice of the Wild

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). 

A handsome winter visitor with a crisp cap and a sweet whistle. Look for them starting in October in undisturbed brushy habitats and neighborhoods with good, shrubby cover. While the white-crowned sparrow has...

Episode 27: Eastern Bluebird – Voice of the Wild

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). 

The beloved Eastern Bluebird is a conservation success story that shows the huge impact of dedicated conservation and stewardship actions. The bird’s musical and somewhat variable churring can be heard in scrubby meadows and...

Episode 26: Cedar Waxwing – Voice of the Wild

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). 

The Cedar Waxwing’s high-pitched call is often heard coming from hungry flocks visiting a local stand of fruit-bearing trees. Look out for their crisp black mask, strong yellow stripe at the end of their tail, and their...

Episode 25: Belted Kingfisher – Voice of the Wild

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). 

A kingfisher perched along the edge of a lake or stream is a common sight for anglers – besides perching, the kingfisher can also hover a few meters above the surface of the water as it watches for little fish. While you’...

Episode 24: Greater Anglewing – Voice of the Wild

Greater Anglewing, (Microcentrum rhombifolium).

Appropriately named, the greater anglewing has curiously rhombus-shaped wingcovers. These clicking insects emerge a few weeks after the common true katydids and add a strange stone-tapping sound to the grinding chorus...

Episode 23: Dog-Day Cicada – Voice of the Wild

Dog-day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)

While canicularis is the insect most associated with the “dog-day” name, that common name is shared by several species. If the northern dog-day cicada doesn’t sound like what you learned as the dog day cicada, check out...

Episode 22: Morning Cicada – Voice of the Wild

Morning Cicada (Neotibicen tibicen). 

As the name suggests, this insect sings only in the morning. It begins its rattling broadcast just after the late summer sun has cooked the cool of the night out of the low vegetation it tends to prefer. This cicada has...

Episode 20: American Goldfinch – Voice of the Wild

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). 

The American goldfinch’s jumbled song is a staple of warm mornings and hot summer afternoons. In the cold months they visit hanging finch feeders, the drooping heads of last year’s sunflowers, and sometimes join in with Pine...

Episode 19: Indigo Bunting – Voice of the Wild

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). 

While the Indigo Bunting is named for the breeding male’s exceptionally blue plumage, the female’s plumage is also exceptional; a rich fawn brown. Look for the Indigo Bunting in hedgerows, forest edges, and other savannalike...

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Keywords
Wildlife
Birds
Native Plants
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