Steller's jays are known to imitate hawks, but very little is known about the function of this behavior. By using a variety of methods to assess the quality of imitations (from varying perspectives!), I hope to shed some light on why this behavior occurs and how accuracy may vary across individuals.

See for yourself -- can you tell which of these calls are given by actual red-shouldered hawks and which are Steller's jays performing imitations of hawks? Listen to the recordings, take the short survey below, and submit your answers.

Call #1


Call #2


Call #3

• Quantify mimetic accuracy among Steller's jays related to individual characteristics

1. Spectrographic analysis
• Compare structural differences between hawk calls and jay imitations
2. Bioassays
• Efficacy/effects of mimicry towards model species (hawks)
• Efficacy/effects of mimicry towards conspecifics (other jays)
• Efficacy/effects of mimicry towards heterospecific mixed-species flocks (juncos, etc.)
• Determine whether people can differentiate between imitated and actual hawk calls

Trinity Tippin

WLDF 246 - Humboldt State University

Email: tctippin@humboldt.edu

Graduate Advisor: Dr. Jeff Black