USA, Minnesota, two short audio clips, bird not seen, possibly Bald Eagle? (1 Viewer)

[Lerxst]

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Just recorded this. Going through xeno-canto and Macauley comparisons, Bald Eagle is the best I can come up with, although it is somewhat disimilar in frequency to typical recordings. This was near a lake where they are seen on occasion. Thanks in advance.

 

[jmepler]

The first one sounds like a Blue Jay. The second one sounds like a Blue Jay imitating a Red-tailed Hawk.

 

[nartreb]

I'm the last person one should ask about audio, but I don't hear the harshness that would be typical of a jay. They both have a slightly gullish quality to them - something about the way the note slides around. The calls seem too short for red-tail to me. I haven't heard a lot of bald eagles (they're pretty quiet most of the time) but some kind of raptor seems like a good starting point. Juvenile hawk? Osprey?

 

[SEOW]

The first is definitely a Blue Jay. The second is almost certainly a Blue Jay imitating a begging Red-tailed Hawk- though I can't completely rule out a real Redtail, the very short first note of the second recording sounds very much like a Blue Jay. BLJA's frequently imitate the sound of a begging Redtail (as well as the more usual keeeearrrr of a Redtail).

 

[jmepler]

Osprey is virtually nonexistent in Minnesota by mid November.

I don't hear Bald Eagle at all. I still think that it is a Blue Jay imitating a Red-tailed Hawk.

 

[lgonz1008]

Both recordings are Blue Jay, first one is a bit grating how often I hear it in my local park while searching for migratory songbirds. Second one is a bit less obvious, but Bald Eagle would be a bit more repetitive/stronger while Blue Jay tends to mimic a call but not give enough enunciation to it, feels closer to what you'd hear when they are communicating between birds in the same foraging/family group.

 

[qwerty5]

I think Blue Jay as well. But I really suck at birding by ear so don't put too much stock in my opinion.

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm going with Blue Jay as well,

 

[jayp]

I think they're both Blue Jays. They do a remarkably good job of imitation. Like, other birds that mimic give themselves away somehow (specific notes for that species or rapid progression to other songs) but Blue Jays have the ability to never give up the ruse.

 

[Lerxst]

Thank you all for listening and commenting. The more I listen the more I agree. It is not the first time a jay has fooled me.