Blue jays making a weird sound

Lately the blue jays have been making a strange call, one I have never heard them make before. Every time I hear it I get excited, thinking its a hawk. Then I finally saw one doing it and realized it was them the whole time. I read on wikipedia that they can mimic local hawks quite well.

I wonder why this is the first time I am hearing them do this? And it isn't just the ones at my condo; I heard blue jays doing it at Brazos bend park yesterday - which is an hour away from me. Perhaps it is because this time of year the hawks are more abundant down here. I don't really know. Have any of you experienced this? It was hard to find a clip of the strange sounds (most sites just have the 2 more common calls) but I finally found it here:

http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/birdsong.php?id=5

They are the last 2 calls on that clip.

Here is a picture of a blue jay last fall, grabbing an acorn (just for kicks)

Hi rn, Mine have been doing this a long time. So much so that now my parrot does the sound.

They always amaze me with all the different sounds they make.

Thats weird I'm not hearing the Red-tailed Hawk screetch I'm used to hearing here.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/audio/Red-tailed_Hawk.html

This message was edited Feb 4, 2009 5:27 PM

That cricket sounding call was a new one for me last year, but the rest I have heard in these parts.

Funny reaction by my cat when I clicked on the learnbirdsongs site!
It sounded so real, and I loved it. Thanks for sharing that.

Now that the Blue Jays are coming to my backyard regularly I hear this hawk imitation all the time. I have also heard them make a croaky-gruntlike sound that was wondering if anyone knew what that sound might be all about.

I have no idea what there about. I think their just imitating things they hear.

cb, Maybe a frog on yours?

We've had Blue Jays that copied the sound of the squeaky clothesline. Drove Mom insane cause she'd hear it and think I was outside so she'd spend 5 minutes getting her hat and boots on and there'd be these jays, laughing at her!!

LOL, I believe that 3g's!

I have 1 at least that makes a sound like he is in agonizing pain and needs help right away. He has fooled me twice with that.

"MUST…HAVE… PEANUT…OR … WILL… DIE"

:-)

LOL!! Funny little things, aren't they? Yes sometimes ours sound like grackles or starlings. Guess it just depends on what they hear

Playing wolf?
Maybe they're making hawk sounds to scare off the other birds so they'll have all the food to themselves.
LOL!

I've run outside too looking for a Hawk and then realizing it is just a Jay. I have one very vocal Blue Jay that makes a sound I can't even describe....really sounds funny, though.

Ours fly down grab peanuts then sit up on the hanger making the hawk call while eating their nuts. We have assumed it is to try and keep the other birds at bay!! LOL

In the begininng it fooled me. But if you listen, the pitch is just a bit different. Here it is a little higher pitch.

you should try to record it GP!