meeko – Hidden rhythmic world of Blyth's Reed Warblers!

Meeko was a highlight for me in 2022, even if I could record him so little time, but his rhythms stood out asap for me! It makes me grateful I could record him and share his talent with the world!

When I name my birds, I try to avoid human names because it is an animal not a human. So most names are based on certain influences (Movies, characters, videogames) or a bird onomatopoeia. Or sometimes I feel like “this” name fits for this BRW. Meeko name was inspired from Pocahontas raccoon “Meeko”. I also try to find different names as otherwise I mix up my birds haha (I did a mistake with Ludvi; Tudvi, Ridvi, Madli)

Time to see what amazing parts his song has in it! Each new “rhythm pattern” will be as a separate audio to show how many different patterns exists before it repeats!! Audio will be provided
NOTE: Samples will be shown as the original sample, even if the bird sings it differently. This helps to locate the real sample and also you can hear the difference how this specific bird user the exact sample. For example a sample is “khäädu” but bird sings “tuhäädu”. I still write the sample as “khäädu” as it is easier to find the universal sound in the sound database and compare how the sample is sung by different birds :).

Song length: 26 minutes 43 seconds

Audio 1: Niidissivöö trt trt trt (Occurs during song: 6) (🕒 12 seconds)

A very simple melody consists of 2 parts only. A variant of a “Nii dis vöö” Common along most BRWs, characteristic. A simple rhythm with 2 different sounds.

“Nii” “Dis” “vöö” “trt”
Melodic rhythm
6x

Audio 2: Vitvit Tsiurr vitvit (Occurs during song: 4) (🕒 6 seconds)

2nd very basic rhythms. He uses only two samples to construct this rhythm

“Vit” “Tsiurr”
instrumental rhythm
5x

Audio 3: Iirrrw kjökk kjökk (Occurs during song: 4) (🕒8 seconds) (5x combo)

This kjökk has interesting metallic feel to it, like if you would hit a hot metal with a hammer to shape it. Irwww sounds the word we Estonians use as a slang to laugh. A common swift mimicry

““irww” “kjökk” “Vt”
instrumental rhythm
5x

Audio 4: Truidi vido truiti vidouu (Occurs during song: 4) (🕒3 seconds)

A very bizarre sounding part with a mimicry of a barn swallow

“truidi” “Vido”
instrumental rhythm
5x

Audio 5: Nii dudu niiduvee (Occurs during song: 4) (🕒17 seconds)

First melodic part! Very sparkly sound and a variant of a sample “niiduvee” This time Meeko mixes it up in a way to make it “nii-dudu-niiduee” Sometimes it can sound vii or vee. Both work how you hear it.

SPECIAL – This rhythm has a pre-rhythm “Truidi_vido_truiti_vidoTu” and After rhythm Vapiir tatat tatat. it means that these 3 are sung always in this specific order most of the time. You can predict a next rhythm after you hear first.

“niiduvee” “vt”
Catchy melodic
7x
Truidi vido truiti vidoTu
Truidi vido truidii vido tu —> Nii dudu niiduvee —> Vapiir_tatat_tatat

Audio 6: Vapiir tatat tatat (Occurs during song: 3) (🕒14 seconds)

Vapiir sounds interesting (not in bad way, more like unusual) what like creeps upon you, low buzzy sound. It also sounds like a word “vampiir” in Estonian (vampire) I like how the tatat ta tatat” parts also make a secondary small rhythm. When you stepdance and jump in rhythm

“vapiir” “tatat”
Instrumental rhythm
6x

Audio 7: Psiu psiu (Occurs during song: 1) ((🕒5 seconds)

As basic as you can get (basic is not meant as an offensive word) Sometimes bird feels like repeating single sample many times until changing to new rhythm. It feels to me like he has not decided what to sing next so it feels like “hmm hang on” moment.

““tsirr”
6x
Eurasian tree sparrow

Audio 8: jü-iis tr tr ögi tirss tratra (Occurs during song: 3)

At first he starts with a basic 1 2 1 2 like sequence and then adds a “ögi tirss” into the mix to add variety” It is an alternate variant of a sample “tovee/tobee riist wa wa” which I always translate as “Tobe riistvara (Dumb hardware) as it always reminds me this estonian sentence haha. Jü-iis sounds like Õis what means “petal” in Estonia.

“jü-iis“” “ögi” “tirss” “duk” “tra”
Melodic kind
5x

Audio 9: Tah viu tah vüvüvvüvitsju (Occurs during song: 3)

“Tah” sound sounds like a pack of cards being flipped through a hand or a clappy sounding instrument. Vüvüvüviitsju is like when you get a goosebump and it travels across your body, making you shake. “Viitsju” is also a sample BRW use often in mixing. (A great tit or marsh tit mimicry?)

““tahviu” “ta” “vüvüvviitsju” “pts” “vitsju”
Melodic with a bit of instrumental too
4x

Audio 10: Jüö tsuptsup (Occurs during song: 3)

This pattern, being very simple consists of 2 parts only. It sounds like a word “joodik” (alcoholic) in Estonian. It also has lots of different variants. Also a short version of “jüo” is heard here, I usually have heard this much longer by other BRWs

““jüö” “tsup”
instrumental rhythm
4x

Audio 11: Viir vupivupivu du dun bree baba (Occurs during song: 2)

Favourite melodic rhythm! Making a very catchy melody by using swifts “viiir” sample. It has a very distinctive rhythm, only changing slightly, replacing “vupivupivu” with “Berr baba” bassier part. Really love this one. Stood out a lot! and makes this BRW stand out from others as this is his specific rhythm

““Viir” “vüpivüpivü” “bree” “ba” “dun”
Catchy melodic
4x
Common Swift (viir)

Audio 12: Psiupp Psiupp ka thai ka ka thai (Occurs during song: 2)

Another AMAZING rhythm! Just after the previous rhythm. More instrumental! 2nd favourite of his, he uses siskins “Kathõi” very amazingly to make up this catchy rhythm!

““psiu” “ka” “thai”
instrumental rhythm
4x
Siskin (Ka thai) Eurasian Woodcock (Psiupp)

Audio 13: Miistvüii (occurs during song: 2)

Simpler smaller rhythms, consist of 2 parts only

“Miist” “Vüii” “psiup”
instrumental rhythm with very slight melodic part
5x

Audio 14: Pidii Tanii ta TRR Tani (Occurs during song: 4)

3rd favourite rhythm!!! Very instrumental with a constant rhythm! Shows very well the talent of BRWs!

“Pi-di” “Tani” “katarrn”
Consists of mostly instrumental parts.
7x

Audio 15: Tsi vüüi tara (Occurs during song: 4)

Now he went slower tempo for this pattern! This shows how BRWs can change their tempo between different rhythmic patterns! Sometimes they are speedy, next time they slow down!

“tsi” “vüüi” “tha”
10x
Has a small melody constructed with “Tsi” “püüi” parts
Slow and steady

Audio 16: Tuff tuff tuff tuff wrerere (Occurs during song: 1 )

Sounds like he is shooting watermelon seeds 😀. Another common rhythm among most BRWs is this rhythm. It sounds similar to “Tsi tik tik” but not quite.

“tuff” “Tsi” “frerere”
4x

Faster kind

Audio 17: Njäkäkäk thikthik (Occurs during song: 2)

Mimicry of a magpie (pica pica) njäkäkäk sound and a yellowhammer! A simple rhythm what has only two different samples

“Njäkä” “Thik”
6x

Faster kind
Eurasian magpie “Njäkä” , Yellowhammer “Thik”

Audio 18: Tutvuii tutut veevii (Occurs during song: 2)

I always heard that “veevi” sound as beebi (baby).

“Püi” “Veevi” “tink” “thik” “kik”
6x
Melodic, “veevi” being the part.
Middle kind, not too fast and not too slow
Eurasian magpie “Njäkä” , Yellowhammer “Thik”

Around 5 minutes , a first repeat of

“Niidissivöö trt trt trt” That lasted 36 seconds

5:37 seconds – second singing of “Nii-dudu-Niiduvee” Lasts 17 seconds

5:55 – 2nd appearance of Vapiir tatat tatat Lasts 5 seconds

6:01 – 2nd time of Vitvit Tsiurr vitvit

6:10 – 2nd time of Iirrrw kjöpp kjöpp

6:23 – 2nd appearance of Truidi vido truiti vidotu

after that, a brand new rhythm is heard!

Audio 19: Tiktik TSII tiktik Türärä (Occurs during song: 2)

4th favourite rhythm. I love the vibrating bassy “türärä” part. I love when BRWs use such samples when mixing!!!

“tsii tik tik” “Türärä”
10x
Has a cool bass with the “türärärä” used what makes this rhythm amazing
Middle kind, not too fast and not too slow
Spotted flycatcher “Tsii tik tik”

Audio 20: Juöi näp näp näp (Occurs during song: 3)

Sounds like a word “jõi” (drank) in Estonian. Another simple rhythm with only 2 samples used.

“jüöi” “näp”
10x

Slightly faster kind
Sparrow “Näp”

Audio 21: VIIIRüvi (occurs during song: 2)

Second time where swift (apus apus) mimicry is used, in a different pattern! This time the sample “Viir” is mixed into the “Üvi” part.

“Viiir” “üvi”
6x

Middle
Common swift “Viiir”

Audio 22: põtpõt Tzäädo (Occurs during song: 3 )

Sounds very electric and buzzy, especially the “tzäädo” part. Its like a spark happens! The “Põt” samle sounds very tiny, like if ants would do haha.

“tzäädo” “põt”
4x

Fast

Audio 23: Vhii darrdarr (Occurs during song: 1 )

Favourite bass style pattern, classic for BRW – the “vhii darr darr” combo. I always have a huge smile when they decide to add this in their song rhythms! I have heard slower version and faster versions too and even wobbly!

“Vhii” “dar”
5x

Fast

7:44 – second singing of Pidii Tanii ta TRR Tani rhythm

Audio 24: Jü-iis ver ver (Occurs during song: 4)

Very similar to “Õis_trt” combo, but this one has a slight different tone, “ver” sounds awesomly bassy and very low toned!

“Jü-iis” “ver”
5x

Middle

Audio 25: VIIIU wahwah_Tsii_Tererer tuff tuff (Occurs during song: 2)

Love the slightly splatty bassy sounding “tuff” part! The screaming “Viiiu”part he does sounds like he was shocked at something and screamed or in cartoons when a character is in the shower and somebody peeks into the shower haha.

“Viiiu” “wha” “tsii” “vötötöt” “tuff”
3x

Slightly faster

8:51 – He was about to start the Niidissivöö rhythm but then chose something else haha, which was:

Audio 26: Tsii hirrlu (occurs during song: 2)

Lirru has very vibrating sound! I always see like the sound collapses at the end like a lego tower. Very unique mimicry.

“Tsii” “hirrlu” “Vhttt” “pt”
3x

Slightly faster

9:15 – Second time of Tsi vüüi tara

9:38 – second time of Jüö tsuptsup (14 sec)

Audio 27: Viiir Brääe bäbä (Occurs during song: 1 )

Small variant of a “Viir, vupivupivu” It only lasted 4 seconds.

“Viiir” “brääe” “ti”
2x

Fast
Common swift “Viir”

10:05 – 3rd time singing Niidissivöö trt trt trt rhythm (32 seconds)

Audio 28: Sisivii Tuvit tuvit Sisiviido (Occurs during song: 1 ) (41 seconds long rhythm)

Variant of samples “sisiklee/sisikee/ and “viido” Sisi part taken from sisiklee and viido added next to it, making it into unique variant! (It also can be heard as SisiKiido, depends how you hear it, so it has two variants)
I love how bouncy “tuvit” sounds. This whole part lasted 41 seconds

“Sisikee” “Sisiviido” “tövöt” “töf”
2x
Melodic rhythm
Fast

Audio 29: Öövet vhõtt (Occurs during song: 1 )

This sound is interesting as the beginning can be heard so many ways. It can be iivet, jüüvet. The “Vhõtt” sounds like you use a broom to clean a floor.

“öövet” “vhõtt”
5x

Middle

Audio 30: SisiVivi duvvat tufftuff (Occurs during song: 1 ) (23 sec)

Another variant with the “sisi” part. Often used by other BRWs too, the “sisi” sample is added in many parts. Like “sisikee” “sisimöödavii” etc.
“davvat” sounds also very bouncy like jumping on a sofa! Here he used “sisi” and “vivi” to make a “Sisivivi”

“sisi” “sisivivi” “vivi” “duvvat” “tuff”
2x

Middle

Around 12:00 minutes, He makes 2nd time the “Tiktik TSII tiktik Türärä” rhythm (9 seconds)

12:08 – 2nd time singing of Juöi näp näp näp rhythm (16 seconds)

A brand new rhythm appears

Audio 31: Tvut-srvii tvut-srvii tvu donkdonk (Occurs during song:1) (10 seconds)

Very fast and melodic rhythm. Interesting part is “tvut-srvii” I havent heard before on BRWs.

“tvut” “srvii” “tvut-srvii “donk” “Tshiiu” “tsä”
2x

Fast

12:43 – 3rd occurrence of Vitvit Tsiurr vitvit (4 seconds)

12:47 – 3rd time of Iirrrw kjökk kjökk rhythm (11 seconds)

12:59 – 3rd appearance of Truidi vido truiti vidotu (2 seconds)

A small note – sometimes you can predict certain rhythms a BRW is about to do based on a “pre rhythm” before it. This is an example of whenever he does Truidi_vido_truiti_vidoTu, usually a rhythm of Nii dudu niiduvee appears after this. There was another Truidivido rhythm which had no Niidudu-niiduvee after it, but if it already happened 2 times, it is a high change this pre rhythm has always a niidudu-niiduvee after.

13:03 – 3rd appearance of Nii dudu niiduvee (15 seconds)

13:18 – 4th appearance of Niidissivöö trt trt trt (29 seconds)

13:49 – 2rd appearance of Tutvuii tutut veevi (30 seconds)

14:21 – 2nd occurence of Njäkäkäk thikthik (23 seconds)

14:42 – 3rd appearance of Vi_vuiii_taratara (32 seconds

Audio 32: Üvii thik thik (Occurs during song: 2 )

A brand new rhythm appeared not heard before. Üvii is also a common sample used by multiple other BRWs.

“üvii” “thik” “tshee”
5x

Fast

15:36 a 2nd small reappearance of põtpõt Tzäädo (5 seconds)
15:41 – second time of VIIIRüvi rhythm (16 seconds)
16:01 – second appearache of Miistvüii rhythm (32 seconds)

16:33 – 2nd occurence of Jü-iis ver ver
a new rhythm! Was similar sounding of Juöi part. Bär bär sounds nice and bassy and vibrating

16:47 – 2nd time of VIIIu_wawawa_Tsii_Terr_dudududu rhythm (11 seconds)
He ends this rhythm exactly by singing it 4 times.

17:01 – 2nd occurrence of Tsii_Liirru (10 seconds)

17:15 – a super small part of Niidissivöö trt trt trt sang, but only once and only “niidissi”
17:16 – second appearance of Õis_tr_tr_, without jöpii tirss tra tra part. So a small variant of a similar rhythm!

17:33 – second appearance of Tah viu tah vüvüvvüvitsju rhythm

Audio 33: Visske vjii (Occurence during song: 2 )

Vissk (And Visske) is a sample what they use in all over places, such as here. Other times have heard it as “visskviu” “Vissk tavüü” Another sound what can be heard differently depending how you hear it. Pissk/vissk/bissk. Its strange how one sound can be heard so differently. Even if these can be heard many diff ways which isn’t wrong, I usually try to keep on one onomatopoeia to ID these samples. If I write vissk, I mean this specific sound. (altho alternate variants can occur, then I write accordingly) I mainly use one universal sound so it is easier to pinpoint the exact sounds what BRWs do. He he uses slightly longer “vissk”

“Visske” “viii” “Röwrew”
5x

Fast

18:11 – Wow, took 16 minutes for him to sing second time of Viir vupivupivu du dun bree baba rhythm! (35 seconds) Last one was heard 2:01 during a recording.

18:46 – 2nd time he sings Psiupp Psiupp ka thai ka ka thai , last one was heard 16 minutes ago. (20 seconds)
19:07 – 4th occurrence of Vi_vuiii_taratara (25 seconds)
19:32 – 4th occurence of Vitvit Tsiurr vitvit
19:38 – 4th occurence of Iirrrw kjökk kjökk
19:48 – 4th occurence of Truidi vido truiti vidotu (Pre pattern to “Nii dudu niiduvee” )
19:50 – and after truidi vido, comes 4th time of Nii dudu niiduvee rhythm which happened 3 times like this.
20:08 – 3rd occurrence of Vapiir tatat tatat

2nd note. Vapiir tatat tatat seems to be an after pattern of Nii dudu niiduvee, as I noticed after Nii dudu niiduvee , there always appears Vapiir rhythm. As some rhythms are more noticeable (like the ones I love and want BRW to repeat <3 I also notice it has pre and after pattern what he always chooses around the main rhythm. Very interesting! It always seems to be these 3 rhythms what always go along together – Truidi vido truiti vidotu – Nii dudu niiduvee – Vapiir tatat tatat
20:21 – 3rd appearance of Juöi näp näp näp
20:41 – 3rd occurence of Pidii Tanii ta TRR Tani (I wish it was more often because i love this part!!) (40 seconds)
21:21 – 3rd occurrence of Jü-iis ver ver
21: 36 – 6th appearance of Niidissivöö trt trt trt

Audio 34: Is vet vet trt trthäädu (Occurence during song: 1 )

Looks like an alternate variant of põtpõt Tzäädo With added Is vet vet part (Is vet vet part is mimicry of a European Goldfinch) Also a sample of “khäädu” what misses a k and assembled together with a sample “tu” what makes an unique sample “tutuhäädu”. Talented bird mixing!

“is vet vet” “trt” “khäädu” “tututu”
5x

Fast

Audio 35: Üliicha cha (Occurence during song: 1 )

VERY similar to Üvii and Õis and Juöi parts, but it is different enough for it to separate onomatopoeia. I love the electric sounding chap chap part

“Üliicha” “trt” “cha”
5x

Fast

22:55 – 3rd occurrence of Meeko_Jüoo_dik_dik rhythm.

23:15 – 2nd occurence of Meeko_Pisske_Vjii

23:32 – 2nd appearance of Meeko_Üvii_tiktiktik
Another small interesting note! Sometimes specific song rhythms remind me other BRW song rhythms who has used this same part in their rhythm with added unique parts on.. this Meeko_Üvii_tiktiktik reminds me a pattern what X BRW did what had Üvii_tiktiktik but had a “babatshiii bap bap” after it. If you have listened a LOT of BRW rhythms over the years, you start to recall other BRW rhythms and remember that “ahh this specific rhythm was used by X in their song with this specific combo” So you can remember multiple other BRWs. As many BRWs can do similar rhythms by using same samples in specific order, but add few parts on it

23:52 – a small 3rd recurrence of põtpõt Tzäädo

23:56 – 3rd occurence of Jüö näp (30 seconds)

24:26 – 3rd occurence of Õis_tr_tr (Interesting how he chose all these similar üvii, Juöi and Õis parts in a row) Also without the ögi tirss tratra so 2 times he has sang the without variant

24:52 – 3rd occurrence of Tah viu tah vüvüvvüvitsju

Audio 36: Psiipsii wewewe tink (Occurence during song: 1 )

After lots of repeated patterns, we got a new brand new rhythm, what consists of blue tit mimicry!

“psiipsii” “wewewe” “tink”
5x

Fast

Audio 37: Iüüü_trt_trt (Occurence during song: 1)

Iüüü I also call as “bomb fall” sound like in cartoons :).

“viiu” “prt”
5x

Fast

26:07 – 4th occurrence of Jü-iis ver ver rhythm

26:30 – 4th occurence of Pidii Tanii ta TRR Tani before recording is ending.

The most often heard rhythms were Niidissivöö trt trt trt (6 times heard in duration of 26:43 audio) and Jü-iis ver ver (5 times)

The least heard part what only occurred ONCE:
Psiu psiu
Tuvuitsivii_tuvuitsii_tvu_ta_ta_ta
Sisivii_Tuvit_tuvit_Sisiviido, another melodic rhythm only once heard.
tsi Tsi
Tutu_Vhi_tututututu
Vhii darrdarr (Such a shame, I wanted more :’)
Tiktik_Piiir_bää_bär_bä
Jüüvet_vat_vat
SisiVivi_Tuvvait_tututututu
Psiipsii_Tsehehe

How to tell this BRW apart from other BRWs: Unique rhythms on this BRW what stood him out of any other 6 BRW were Niidissivöö trt trt trt, Viir vupivupivu du dun bree baba,, Psiupp Psiupp ka thai ka ka thai and Pidii Tanii ta TRR Tani. No other BRW did these rhythms, not even close. These specific rhythms were only done by Meeko and whenever you heard this specific 4 rhythms, it was always Meeko 🙂

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