 However, depending on the artist, the song can have different creatures, such as Peter, Paul and Mary's 1969 version which has a bat, a black bird, wood pecker, turtle dove, and a blue jay.Each "bird" has something to say about love and courtship in some sort of rhyming manner.It was recorded by Burl Ives on 31 January 1941 and released in August 1941 on the album "Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger".