a strange song

There's a bird around which I believe to be a chickadee that whistles a three- or (occasionally) four-note song -- more like what one would expect from a Carolina Chickadee than from a Black-capped! These are all clear, separated notes without the stutter (on a single note) that you often hear in a normal Black-capped Chickadee two-note song. I have heard this new song now several times -- always in the same place, just off the property in a neighbor's garden -- but I have been unable to actually see this bird in the act of singing. Do Black-capped Chickadees ever sing like this? I'm not sure that, even if I could get a look at the bird, that it would be possible to tell what it was for sure; the visual differences between the two species are very slight. We are not very far from the Carolina's range in mid-to-southern New Jersey but my impression is that Carolinas are simply not found north of the Raritan River in New Jersey. On the other hand, there are reports of hybrids (from the contact zone between the two species) which might learn a Carolina song. Anyone have any up-to-date information on this?

If it's not a chickadee, I have no idea what it might be! If it is a Carolina Chickadee, it would be a great find but I am not sure how I could ever prove it!

There are still a few Eastern Phoebes around and they seem to hunt in small groups. Two of the birds in one such group turned out to be Hermit Thrushes; both thrushes and phoebes were hunting on the ground and perching on low, leafless branches.

A few Yellow-rumps and some siskins and goldfinches, at least one Winter Wren and a large, unidentified hawk (probably a Red-tailed) were around but, in the face of the warm weather and gusty southwest winds, there was relatively little activity compared to yesterday.

Eric Salzman