> Blue Jays imitate the calls of Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, and Broad-winged hawks, for example.
I've seen this. We've had Red Tailed Hawks nesting in the area and used to hear them calling every morning. (True fact: Most "eagle calls" in media are Red Tailed Hawks because they sound more intimidating than the chittering from Bald Eagles.) One morning I was out and about and heard the "hawk" in the tree directly above me. I stopped and searched through the branches which were just starting to develop leaves. A bird the size of a hawk should have been easy to spot. After searching for a minute or two, I spotted a Blue Jay hopping around the lower branches.
> The function of these imitations is unknown.
I have a couple guesses.
* Blue Jays being jerks.
* Blue Jays mob hawks and maybe just wanted to find one in the area.
* Blue Jays just wanted to see what - if anything - would react to the potential presence of the hawk in the area.
I've seen this. We've had Red Tailed Hawks nesting in the area and used to hear them calling every morning. (True fact: Most "eagle calls" in media are Red Tailed Hawks because they sound more intimidating than the chittering from Bald Eagles.) One morning I was out and about and heard the "hawk" in the tree directly above me. I stopped and searched through the branches which were just starting to develop leaves. A bird the size of a hawk should have been easy to spot. After searching for a minute or two, I spotted a Blue Jay hopping around the lower branches.
> The function of these imitations is unknown.
I have a couple guesses.
* Blue Jays being jerks. * Blue Jays mob hawks and maybe just wanted to find one in the area. * Blue Jays just wanted to see what - if anything - would react to the potential presence of the hawk in the area.