2 or 3 times now, while a whole bunch of blue jays were hanging out in the trees around my house, I heard a sound that was exactly like the sound the bead makes when you shake a can of spray paint. I am pretty sure I even saw the blue jay making the noise. Is this a normal sound they make, or was he imitating?
I am really, really new to this - I love birds, but don't know a whole lot about them :)
I am really, really new to this - I love birds, but don't know a whole lot about them :)
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Re: Bird calls - has anyone heard this?
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 9:54 AMWe don't have Blue Jays around here (California) but we do have lots and lots of Steller's Jays and Scrub Jays and they sure make a variety of sounds. I remember racing out to my deck with my camera when I heard a Red-Shouldered Hawk calling, couldn't find it, then I saw the Steller's Jay making the call! We had a suet feeder, so the jay would get close, shriek the hawk call, thus scaring the bejeesus out of the little birdies who were feeding, and then the jay came in to gorge himself at the (now empty) feeder! -
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Re: Bird calls - has anyone heard this?
Wed, February 28, 2007 - 6:57 PMSteller Jays, Ravens, Crows, and Blue Jays all make that rattling sound (I compared it to that musical instrument the fish, where you draw a stick across a row of ridges). I can't remember hearing a Scrub Jay or Green Jay or Clarks Nutcracker do it.
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Re: Bird calls - has anyone heard this?
Thu, March 1, 2007 - 8:14 AMNever seen a blue jay as I live in the UK, but they are related to magpies, and they make a noise similar to that you're describing. Of the members I know of the same family, none are known particularly for sweet singing voices. -
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Re: Bird calls - has anyone heard this?
Thu, March 1, 2007 - 10:14 AMI have heard some Corvids engage in what I call "conversational notes" which are very quiet and much more melodic vocals between a pair. But it is very quiet, so I don't hear it that often. I remember this especially from Ravens and Steller Jays.
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