[HankB99]

> 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.

[card_zero]

I heard a blue jay mimic a golf trolley's squeaky wheel. They will mimic any sound, it's a sex thing, it doesn't have to be complicated.