Unusual call at Mt. Cutler, Hiram.... poss. Violaceous Jay??

[Jeff Webb]

Walking my dog on a snowmobile trail between Mt. Cutler and River Road in Hiram I heard and recorded a very unusual shrieking call which Merlin ID'd as a Violaceous Jay!  It went on loudly for several minutes before whatever it was moved further off into the woods, where it was and still may be audible.  The call was coming from up in the trees in a dense hilly spot, so I couldn't see anything,   Initially I thought it was a hawk but no hawk species seems to match.  Blue Jays were stirred up by whatever it was.  Google Drive link for the audio file is here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n_TeXj1ej0Jn50QRjRXuSha9-IsBsYDZ/view?usp=sharing   Location coordinates here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yEYVpQxUwrV4iH3W9 .  Maybe I'm missing something obvious so any help is appreciated.  Thanks.

Jeff Webb

[andrew...@gmail.com]

I wish it were a Violaceous Jay:-)  No way one would ever be found in Maine though;-)  That was either a Canada Jay or Blue Jay calling.

Andrew

[Sarah Caputo]

It sounded like something was murdering a bluejay to me!

Sarah

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[Cepphus]

Never say...No way one would ever be found in Maine though...

Great Black Hawk - Maine 8/9/2018 - Ebird.org

Steller's Sea-Eagle - Maine 1/3/2022 - Ebird.org

[Jeff Webb]

There was a Goshawk near the same spot on Sept. 24, so a Blue Jay being murdered sounds like the most probable answer.  Canada Jay records are few and far between in the area, although possible.  The call was unchanging, constant for about 4 minutes and definitely louder than any of the Blue Jays that were around.  Listening to the recording it sounds like they're perturbed about something although if they're scolding a predator they're not as frantic as they usually sound around a hawk or owl.  Scouring audio files I found no exact matches, but Merlin's suggestion of Violaceous Jay was actually the closest to my ears, which might explain the app's ID.

Jeff Webb

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