Do starlings imitate buzzards?

[sixpence]

We keep thinking that there are buzzards flying near when we are in our garden, as we can hear the cat-like mewing but however close the sound seems to be we can never see the birds.I realise they could be flying quite high, but have seen them elsewhere, so I know what to look for. Do you think starlings can imitate the sound, as they do lots of other noises?

[gessoo]

I would think starlings could well imitate the buzzards. I remember a long time ago when 'trimphones' were the rage that a local starling used to immitate one and often had me tearing up the garden and into the house to answer non-existant phone calles.

[gessoo]

and even phone calls!

[Cetti]

I'm sure they can do and as gessoo says they imitate just about everything else.

A bird that does imitate a Buzzard is the Rook. Last year every time I walked through a large rookery I heard constant mewing and ended up with a very stiff neck trying to catch a glimpse of the bird soaring. It wasn't till some time later that I actually caught the perp in the act - probably having a good laugh!

[Stinkerbell]

we get a lot of red kites in the area and have also found that starlings are immitating them.

[sixpence]

Thanks for all of your replies.
I had planned to spend the summer, when it comes, lying in the garden, watching for buzzards, but it would probably be a waste of time. Shame.
Stinkerbell, you're lucky to see red kites in your area, but I hear they are spreading fast.We plan to go the the place in Wales where they come for food. Must be a great sight.

[heathfield]

In our area starlings even imitate curlews. If you repeatedly whistle the first few notes of a song whenever starlings are around, you could well find all the starlings in your area eventually pick it up - honest, it works!

[sixpence]

I had never thought about this before, but all this made me wonder if starlings were ever kept as cage-birds and taught to talk. Don't worry, I don't intend doing it, but take a look at http://www.starlingtalk.com/petstarlings.htm