Blue jays are known for their intelligence and vocal abilities. They make a wide variety of sounds and calls, using them to communicate different messages.
Blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) are songbirds belonging to the Corvidae family, which includes crows, ravens, and other corvids. They are native to eastern and central North America but can now be found across much of the United States and southern Canada.
Blue jays are medium-sized birds with distinctive blue, black, and white plumage. They are very vocal birds, known for their loud, sometimes harsh “jay jay” calls. However, blue jays actually make many more sounds beyond their typical “jay” call.
It turns out blue jays have an extensive vocal repertoire used for communication. By making various calls, blue jays can warn each other about predators, attract mates, identify one another, maintain social hierarchies, and more. Their diverse vocalizations are likely linked to their advanced cognitive abilities.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the reasons why blue jays make so many different sounds and calls. We’ll discuss how their vocalizations are used for:
- Warning calls
- Territorial calls
- Flock communication
- Mate attraction
- Individual identification
Examining blue jay vocalizations provides insight into their social structures and intelligence. Their complex language is just one example of their sophisticated behaviors.
Blue Jay Warning Calls
One of the main reasons blue jays make so many vocalizations is to warn each other about potential predators. Blue jays have an extensive repertoire of alarm calls used to signal danger.
When a blue jay spots a predator like a hawk, owl, cat, or snake nearby, it will make a loud alarm call. This elicitd an mobbing response from other blue jays, that then fly in to mob, dive bomb, and scold the intruder.
Different alarm calls are used for different predators. For example, the most common predator call is a loud, abrupt “jay jay” shriek for hawks and other fast-moving aerial predators. A high pitched “peek” call is made for snakes and slower moving predators. Growling “churr” vocalizations signal a feline predator nearby.
Having specific calls for different predators allows blue jays to communicate very detailed information. The calls tell other jays in the area exactly what type of threat is present so they can respond appropriately.
Blue jays also have different alarm calls depending if they actually spot the predator or are only giving a general cautionary warning. Their ability to make subtle variations in calls adds additional layers of meaning.
Call Type | Predator | Context |
---|---|---|
“Jay jay” shriek | Hawks, crows | Predator spotted nearby |
High pitched “peek” | Snakes, cats | Predator spotted nearby |
Growling “churr” | Cats | Predator spotted nearby |
Raspy “jay” | General | Cautionary warning |
Blue jays combine calls too for even more complex meanings. A “jay jay” shriek combined with raspy “jay” notes communicates both the urgent danger of an incoming hawk with a caution to generally be alert.
Mobbing
When a blue jay alarm call goes out signaling a nearby predator, other jays respond by mobbing the intruder. Several to over a dozen blue jays may fly in to the predator, calling loudly, swooping and diving overhead.
This mobbing behavior seems to serve several purposes:
- Distract and intimidate the predator
- Warn the predator not to return
- Alert other jays
The alarm calls warn jays within earshot while the mobbing serves as a visual alert. The size of the mob communicates the level of threat to others in the area.
Blue jays have a wide network of communication. A single jay alarm call can mobilize a force of blue jays over a large area through their vocalizations.
Territorial Calls
Blue jays are also very territorial birds, defending areas of turf from other jays and competitors. They use vocalizations to claim territories and ward off intruders.
One common territorial call is a loud, whistling “thief” shriek. This adversarial call communicates a warning to other blue jays or similar species to keep away. They often make this call when defending food sources or their nest.
Soft, musical warbling notes are used as a territorial song. Male blue jays sing this song to claim their territory and attract a mate during breeding season. The song declares the jay’s residence and readiness to breed.
If an intruder is spotted within a blue jay’s territory, alarm or agitation calls escalate to chase away the trespasser. So their territorial calls not only warn intruders but recruit other jays to mob if needed.
Mimicry
Blue jays are excellent mimics and often copy the calls of hawks and other birds. Mimicking hawk screams gives the impression that a predator is nearby, frightening intruders away.
Some theorize blue jays may also mimic the calls of competing species to trick them. For example, mimicking chickadee mobbing calls could lure chickadees away from a food source that the jay could then steal.
Their ability to accurately mimic other species’ alarm and food calls likely aids blue jays in their territorial displays and food defense.
Flock Communication
Blue jays live in loose flocks, especially in winter when multiple jays gather at food sources. Their calls help maintain the structure and cohesion of flocks.
Soft, musical contact calls allow jays to keep in touch over distance. Jays spread out to forage but use these gentle calls to maintain awareness of flock members’ presence and location.
Chattering calls are made by dominant jays to recruit other jays to food sources. The call announces an abundant food source, directing the flock to gather at that spot.
Flocks have hierarchies and these recruitment calls from high-ranking birds also maintain the social order. The calls reinforce which birds have higher and lower status in the flock.
Roosting Calls
Blue jays form large communal roosts in fall and winter, sometimes numbering hundreds of birds. As they begin massing in trees to roost for the night, jays make loud, twittering calls back and forth.
These roosting calls help signal sleeping spots and bring scattered flock members together. The calls also communicate the roost’s location to any jays still in the area, directing stragglers to join the mass.
Mate Attraction
Vocalizations are especially important in attracting mates for breeding.
Male blue jays make softer, melodious warbling songs to court females in spring. Their songs convey their fitness and try to charm listening females.
Once paired, couples perform duets together. These duets help maintain their bond and guard their territory. Pairs may also dance as they call back and forth in a synchronized display.
Soft chatter between mates helps coordinate reproductive behaviors like nest building, breeding, and feeding young.
So vocalizations not only bring blue jay pairs together, but strengthen their partnership throughout the breeding process.
Mimicry in Courtship
Interestingly, male blue jays incorporate mimicked calls from other species into their courtship songs. Hawk imitations in particular are common in mating songs.
Research suggests this mimicked hawk “boasting” signals a male’s strength, confidence, and nest defense abilities to females. It demonstrates his capability to ward off predators from their future young.
Incorporating mimicked calls adds diversity and complexity to the male’s love song, showcasing his vocal talent to impressed females.
Individual Identification
Within all their communication, blue jays use calls to identify individual birds. Because their flock social structure is complex, jays must recognize various flockmates.
Each blue jay has signature calls particular to themselves. By recognizing others’ identifying calls, jays can distinguish specific individuals.
Calls not only label the caller, but reference others (“John’s here!”). Being able to label flockmates likely also helps jays track social relationships and status.
In addition, blue jays recognize the calls of their own mates and offspring, allowing them to find each other within flocks.
So amidst the chatter of a 20-bird flock, individual jays can pick out the calls of their family and friends.
Alarm Calls
Interestingly, blue jays even have individually specific alarm and predator calls varying between birds. Individual variations in their shrieks likely help identify which bird is signaling danger.
Blue jays are able to distinguish if an alarm call – say a cat call – came from their mate John or from unrelated flock member Samuel. This ability to identify callers adds an extra layer of meaning to their alarm vocalizations.
Conclusion
In summary, blue jays have an impressive vocal repertoire they use to communicate a wide range of information. Their calls convey alarms, territorial warnings, flock cohesion, mating signals, and individual identity.
This complex language is linked to their social nature, need to bond in pairs and flocks, and cognitive abilities. Vocalizations allow blue jays to coordinate many essential behaviors.
So next time you hear a blue jay’s piercing calls, listen closely! Their vocal abilities surpass a simple “jay jay” cry, communicating much about their intricate social world.