Have you ever heard a bird that just sounded… off? The first time I experienced this was at 17. I was walking through a marsh when I heard a hawk; this should have been easy to spot, as hawks aren’t known for their subtlety. Suddenly, I saw it: a devious Steller’s jay standing in the tree above me, mimicking a red-tailed hawk.
As it turns out, quite a few local birds mimic. The Corvidae family, which includes jays, crows, and ravens, is known for its accurate mimicry. Some ravens, particularly when raised in captivity, have even been known to imitate human speech.
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon has nine species of corvids. Four of these species are likely to be seen in Albany: American crows, common ravens, Steller’s jays, and California scrub jays.
Crows and ravens are fully black, and while they may look similar, it is easier to tell them apart than most think. The most visible difference is size; ravens have a wingspan twice the size of the American crow and sport longer beaks, more rounded wingtips, and a sharper tail shape. Essentially, ravens look like big fancy crows.
The Steller’s jay and California scrub jay are easy to tell apart. Steller’s jays have a black-crested head and a blue body. Scrub jays have a blue back with a white breast and cream belly.
All of these species are intelligent, notably, crows can understand complex ideas such as water displacement. This all is not to discount the intellect of the Valley’s other most prominent mimics, the European starling.
Starlings are an invasive species from Europe brought to New York City in 1890. The myth being that they were released in Central Park by a group of Shakespeare lovers who thought Americans should experience the beauty of the birds written in his plays. Though this origin has been called into question, the year of their arrival has not. Their breeding plumage has an oil-spill-like iridescence with white spots and a bright yellow beak, while their winter plumage is more understated with a dark beak.
Although it is arguable which species of bird is the best mimic, the most common answer would be the superb lyrebird, an Australian bird when in human care, is known to mimic chainsaws, hammers, and even car alarms (as seen in David Attenborough’s Life of Birds). These birds are near perfect in their impressions, able to copy the sound of a mixed flock of bird species. Starlings can mimic car alarms, frogs, or dogs barking, just not as masterfully as the superb lyrebird.
Why do birds mimic? It depends on a multitude of factors. This is useful for communication, protection by mimicking a predator, or to impress females during mating season. It is suggested that male lyrebirds may do this not only to impress females but also to deceive them into staying longer for safety by making them believe there is danger. As is common in science, there is still mystery about these behaviors.
Many folks may suggest that crows and ravens mimic to mess with people. Crows and ravens have been depicted as tricksters throughout history and across cultures. Their intelligence is conducive to these myths with their funerals (crows) and tool use behavior can seem mysterious and familiar to people.
Whether you hear a hawk where there is none or a siren on an empty street, these incredible species are all worth marveling at.
