What sharp, clear call does the Willow Flycatcher give when it is not actively singing on its breeding territory?
Answer
A sharp, clear *whit* call.
While the species is best known for its territorial song (*fee-bee*), like many passerines, it utilizes short, discrete calls for communication outside of courtship or territorial defense. When a Willow Flycatcher is simply moving through the dense shrubbery or performing general activities not related to establishing territory or breeding display, it produces a distinct contact or alarm note. This sound is consistently described as a sharp, clear vocalization rendered phonetically as *whit*. This contrasts with the complex, two-part whistles used when asserting a claim over breeding grounds.
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