Guide

Listen forBirds

Blue Jays that mimic hawk calls

All year

Blue Jays often copy the screams of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk and also the Red-tailed. So when you hear a hawk screaming from a tree in the yard, look before you decide what it is.

Why this time of year

Blue Jays live in Massachusetts all year. They nest here in summer, and Mass Audubon says plenty are still around in the cold months, so the mimic is here in every season.

How to notice it

  1. When you hear a hawk-like scream from a nearby tree, stop and find the bird that is making it. Don't just name it by the sound.
  2. A Blue Jay is just under a foot long, bright blue above, with a pointed crest and a black chinstrap running down to its chest. If the screamer looks like that, it is a jay.
  3. Keep listening. A jay's own calls are a loud 'jeer', clear whistles, and gurgling sounds, and hearing those from the same bird points to a jay.
  4. If you have a feeder, watch whether the small birds scatter at the scream, then see who lands on the feeder next.

Try this with kids: Next time you hear a hawk scream, be a detective: can you spot the bird that made it? Is it blue with a pointed crest?

Word to know: “Mimic”: to copy another animal's call.

Sources

  • web.archive.orgCornell Lab, All About Birds, Life History (archive snapshot 2026-09-25; live site 403). 'In the wild, they often mimic Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks, and sometimes other species.' 'Sometimes Blue Jays mimic hawks when approaching feeders. This may deceive other birds into scattering.' 'most birds quickly return after the jay starts feeding.' 'Some individuals remain year-round throughout their entire range.'
  • web.archive.orgCornell Lab, All About Birds, Overview (archive snapshot 2026-01-04). 'The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. These calls may provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or may be used to deceive other species.'
  • web.archive.orgCornell Lab, All About Birds, Sounds (archive snapshot 2025-12-08). 'The most often heard is a loud jeer ... Also makes clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds. Blue Jays frequently mimic hawks, especially Red-shouldered Hawks.'
  • audubon.orgNational Audubon field guide. 'One is almost identical to the scream of the Red-shouldered Hawk and the calls of Broad-winged Hawk.' 'The Blue Jay is present all year in most of its range.' 'variable numbers migrate south in fall.'
  • massaudubon.orgMass Audubon Blue Jays page. 'Blue Jays can even mimic the scream of a Red-tailed Hawk in order to scare other birds!' 'Many Blue Jays do migrate a short distance in winter, but plenty are still around in the cold months.' 'among the larger backyard birds in Massachusetts'; 'just under a foot long ... bright blue above, with a pointed crest, a straight black bill, and a black chinstrap.'
  • massaudubon.orgMass Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas 2, Blue Jay: 'Nearly ubiquitous and stable.' 'a common sight swooping through the suburbs in search of food, announcing their presence with raucous cries.'

Checked against these sources on November 10, 2026.

Also worth noticing