Sometimes when you take a hike in the forest or go for a walk in a park or garden in your neighborhood, you may hear a screeching sound in the trees. It sounds like a rusty voice calling. If you look carefully into the branches above, you will almost certainly see that the source of the sound is a most interesting creature. It will be a challenge to keep your eye on this particular animal, as it does not like to stay in one spot for very long. However, it is worth the effort, as you will be rewarded by seeing a beautiful bird with bright blue feathers on the side of its wings – the Eurasian jay. It is the size of a pigeon with a kind of black mustache. It hops from one branch to another, usually away from you, to a safe distance. The Eurasian jay is a common resident of Israeli towns and villages that have parks and green spaces. It is a songbird famous for its rasping calls. It can produce some pretty amazing sounds that include imitations of other animals like cats, the call of other birds and even the ringing of a phone. Its uncanny imitation of a crying child can be so convincing that it sends parents running to check on their children. The bird is omnivorous, which means that it will eat anything that is edible. It likes acorns and fruit but will not miss the opportunity to rob a nest and eat the young nestlings that are left unprotected. For this reason, other birds dislike the Eurasian jay and chase it away whenever they see it, not only during nesting season. The jay belongs to the same family as the raven and the crow. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is a smart bird that can learn fast and even plan its moves such as finding a nest and keeping a watchful eye until the parents leave to find food for their young. Then it will strike, usually unnoticed, until it is too late for the nestlings. So whenever you hear the Eurasian jay's screeching call, know that this is a wise bird with interesting behavior, and it can fool you by the simplicity of its sound-producing abilities.
(photo credit: ITSIK MAROM)