Female Blue Jays and Their Unique Call

Only female blue jays use the "rattle" vocalization. It is documented as a territorial alert, but I think my ladies have repurposed it for something else. What do you think?
Best viewed on a larger screen (iPad or larger) at the highest available resolution.
Lesley the Bird Nerd's video on telling male and female blue jays apart:
• How To Tell Male And F...
Gall Lab blog post cited in the video:
pages.vassar.edu/sensoryecolo...
I also reference The Singing Life Of Birds: The Art And Science Of Listening To Birdsong by Donald Kroodsma.
Music is "After You" by Dan Lebowitz (@lebo_tone).
💠The Suburban Morrigan💠
Chapters:
0:00 - Background info and Female #1
1:36 - Female #2
3:22 - Female #3 -- many cool vocalizations!
4:49 - Off-camera calls (and a cute squirrel)
5:42 - Visual comparisons of the female jays
7:32 - Questions for viewers and outro
#animals #bird #birds #birdsounds #wildlife #urbanwildlife #backyardwildlife #bluejays #birdfeeder #birdfeedercam

[@louisewainwright5438]

She sounds annoyed that the feeder is empty! If she wanted, she'd be stamping her little foot, too.

[@corvusaeternus]

I`ve heard rattle calls from female crows in the past. I didn`t know jays do them too but since they`re in the corvid family it makes sense. Beautiful birds! I love blue jays. We don`t have them here "only" normal jays which are also very pretty but that blue colour is gorgeous!

[@mikeo1141]

I was going to guess they were annoyed at an empty food tray. I wish that Blue Jays were as plentiful where I live as they are in your backyard.

[@backyardwildlifeintexas387]

They were definitely hungry. I think they are telling you to put the food out lady! Great job with this video! Nicely done.

[@thesuburbanmorrigan]

Thank you for the kind comment! I'm so happy you liked the video!

[@themandolinmaniac]

I thought she was rattling under her breath, uneasy about the nearby crow, but later I wondered if it's just a habit she has. She is *very* talkative! Great job! Thanks

[@thesuburbanmorrigan]

Thank you for commenting! There's a frustrating lack of study out there on blue jay vocalizations and behavior, but I hope to learn more (and share it).

[@rigelthekent]

the lady jay's pitch is a high "D"

[@thesuburbanmorrigan]

And here I thought they sang in the key of J-sharp...

[@carolinacacicedo6358]

One of the three is bluer than the others

[@thesuburbanmorrigan]

Very much so, it seems. I don't know if light levels affected the video -- I wish I knew more about optics.