Expert: Julia Booth - 8/10/2009

Question
WE live in port coquitlam B.C. and we have stellar jays here. I want to know if stellar jays sing. Ours comes and kind of sings to use in different sounds. Is this common among these birds

Answer
Stellar's Jays usually make this kind of nasal "wank" sort of sound, while in flight. Typically anything given in flight is referred to as a "call" and anything emitted while perched is a "song".

But some people have noticed that their calls vary by location and that they can imitate other birds with which they share their habitat or even sounds that don't come from birds at all.

One thing for sure, whatever noise they do make, it will be loud.

Him sitting and singing to you, it's not common, per se. Consider recording it, so you can compare to these:

http://www.junglewalk.com/popup.asp?type=a&AnimalAudioID=230

http://www.heli-chair.com/jamielovesbirds/stellers_jay.html

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/81/_/Stellers_Jay.aspx

Hope this helps,

Julia