Musical Blue Jay

[Sean S]

I heard several Blue Jays in the woods behind the house today, stirred up over something, with excited "queedle queedle" calls etc.  Nothing unusual or noteworthy, but one kept repeating a musical phrase, in what sounded like perfect pitch:  A flat (below middle C) to F, a minor 3rd interval.   Its durations were regular for a short time also:  A flat for a quarter note's time, followed by a 3-quarter note F.   So in the key of F minor.  If it had repeated the phrases in regular rhythm I would have been astounded, but the phrases were random and mixed up with the other jays' chatter.   My guess is it overheard someone playing monotonous loud music; that type of interval is frequent in hip hop.   Too late getting my phone but I'll be listening for this bird to try to get a recording.

The only other really talented mimics of this caliber I've heard before were a Starling imitating a car engine attempting to start, and one that imitated my former neighbor's always-the-same calling to her dog, "Max, Max".

Sean Smith

[Maggie Strickland]

Sean, you obviously have more than a passing interest in music! I hope you are able to record this singer.

Maggie Strickland

Harmony, Maine

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[Sean S]

Yes, I'm a music lover, for sure.  Its pitch frequency wasn't perfect, just slightly flat but very close, and harmonized (which was why I called it a musical Blue Jay).  Maybe it will play an encore.

Sean Smith

[Richard Garrigus]

Let us know if it hits the devil's interval. you'd have a Blues Jay on your hands.

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[Rob O'Connell]

You beat me to it Richard but I was going to say it might  have been one of the O’Jays still trying to get that Love Train started. The first stop might have been (New) England...

We just gotta join hands!

Cheers, 

Rob O'Connell

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