[EBB Sightings] Unexpected singer

Judi and all,

The Birds of North American Online has a very long section on the 
vocalizations of Western Scrub-Jay:   It includes these sentences:

/"Song./ Soft, unstructured sequence of melodious notes, duration up to 
5 min. Given principally during courtship displays by both sexes when 
birds are close together (<25 cm), usually initiated by male. Tail 
fanned, head moved back and forth in jerky movements. Also occasionally 
produced by solitary jay while perched and otherwise inactive.... Quiet 
calls occurring during within-pair exchanges. "

I have been charmed by that sort of  thing with Steller's Jays.  Nice to 
know the often-more-raucous scrub-jays have a similar soft side!

Kay Loughman
Berkeley
judi sierra wrote:

> Early yesterday on the upper Strawberry Canyon (UC Berkeley) fire road 
> I heard a soft melodius song. I said to my self, pretty but what is 
> it? I rounded the corner and the singer-  a Western Scub jay was 
> sitting low on a dried weed. Within 2 feet on another weed was a 
> second Jay. I assume the object of his adoration. I couldn't find any 
> reference to song in 3 field guides or my Cornell Cds. Maybe it 
> happens so rarely and softly no one has noticed?
> Judi Sierra- Oakland