Jay mimicking a Buzzard (1 Viewer)

[Beany Birder]

I was out for a walk in Surrey (UK) today and heard a Buzzard mewing high above. I turned to my eBird app and ticked off Buzzard for the day. As I descended into a wood I noticed the sound was getting louder and louder and for the life of me I couldn't see the bird of prey above me.

And then I saw it...a (Eurasian) Jay perched atop the canopy calling away mimicking a Buzzard. It had me fooled! Here's the footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQ4lbKRTck

I believe we still don't know for sure why some birds do this. I've heard various theories:

- Scaring off other birds to protect a food source
- To enhance breeding potential by "showing off" its repertoire

It was a fascinating spectacle to witness and certainly made the ordinary extraordinary.

 

[Nutcracker]

Aye, you'd need to ask the Jay why it does it, but it's actually quite common for them to do this. Shows the dangers inherent in ticking birds by sound!

 

[Farnboro John]

Aye, you'd need to ask the Jay why it does it, but it's actually quite common for them to do this. Shows the dangers inherent in ticking birds by sound!

Concur with this. Around Farnborough (just over the Hampshire border) they do it all the time: its not seasonal, so I rather think not breeding related.

John

 

[fugl]

Same with Steller's Jays over here which do a near pitch-perfect Red-tailed Hawk scream. They do it all-year round and they do it a lot; it's one of their most characteristic calls.

 

[KC Foggin]

Same with Steller's Jays over here which do a near pitch-perfect Red-tailed Hawk scream. They do it all-year round and they do it a lot; it's one of their most characteristic calls.

I'm pitch perfect and I can tell the difference between the jays and the hawks. As fugl says it is nearly identical but not quite.

 

[Beany Birder]

Concur with this. Around Farnborough (just over the Hampshire border) they do it all the time: its not seasonal, so I rather think not breeding related.

John

Interesting! I heard another theory today - when they enter a bird of prey's territory they call to see whether any are around. Apparently Jay's in Germany have been recorded doing this within Goshawk territories.

 

[Beany Birder]

I'm pitch perfect and I can tell the difference between the jays and the hawks. As fugl says it is nearly identical but not quite.

Jay's really are clever birds. This one had me completely fooled so clearly I need to start adding "Jay's version of a Buzzard" to my sound repertoire so as not to be caught out again, lol.

 

[apbarr]

Had exactly the same experience in our local country park, had me fooled

 

[Torchepot]

Hi BB

Just wanted to say thanks for posting your video - living in the land of the Jay and the Buzzard (both very common here) I was really interested. I'm not sure how I've managed to miss this till now - but today I heard a buzzard calling which sounded a bit "off" - sure enough it turned out to be a Jay!

I probably wouldn't have investigated if it wasn't for your post - so thanks :t:

I do wonder if it could be a seasonal thing - if so the timing could be about right as we seem to be a week or so behind the UK with most things.

There's a small period in the year (starts about 3 weeks ago here) when the Jays make "beautiful music" with lovely fluty notes and they sound very un-Jay-like. I wish they'd keep it up throughout the year