Ohio is home to a diverse array of bird species, some of which produce calls that sound remarkably similar to human laughter. When walking through the woods or fields of Ohio, an observant birdwatcher may hear an odd chuckling or cackling sound and wonder “what bird sounds like it’s laughing?”
There are a few likely avian suspects behind this comical vocalization in Ohio. The most common laughing-like bird calls heard in this state come from birds in the family Corvidae, which includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These highly intelligent and social birds produce a wide repertoire of sounds, including laughter-like gurgling, chuckling, and cackling noises.
Specific laughing birds found in Ohio include the Blue Jay, the American Crow, the Common Raven, and the Black-billed Magpie. These species all have distinctive laughing calls that add a sense of amusement and excitement to the forests and neighborhoods of Ohio. Read on to learn more about the identification, range, and laughing sounds of these chuckling birds.
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a common backyard bird in Ohio that is known for its raucous jay! jay! calls. But Blue Jays have a wide vocabulary of sounds, including a gurgling chuckle that sounds distinctly human-like.
Blue Jays make this laughing call most often in the spring and fall. It consists of a series of short, guttural notes that sound like high-pitched giggling or chuckling. The laughing call is thought to communicate excitement during feeding or to signal alarm or agitation near a nest site.
Blue Jays are found statewide in Ohio, inhabiting mixed woods, rural areas, parks, and suburban backyards. So keep an ear out for their laughing when spending time outdoors in the Buckeye State! Once learned, the unique laughing call of a Blue Jay is easy to identify among Ohio’s bird voices.
American Crow
The familiar caw! of an American Crow is a classic sound of the Ohio landscape. But listen closely and you may hear a more unusual laughing call among flocks of crows. American Crows produce a wide range of sounds, including a rolling, staccato cackle that sounds remarkably similar to human laughter.
This laughing vocalization is thought to signal excitement, particularly during communal roosting activities. Crows may also make this sound during play or when mobbing predators or other intruders near their nests. The laughing call is sometimes given along with wing flicking or bill probing gestures, indicating an agitated or anxious emotional state.
American Crows are found statewide in Ohio and commonly gather in large winter roosts, providing plenty of opportunities to listen for their laughing among the cawing. So next time you come across a flock of American Crows, listen closely and you may be rewarded by a burst of avian laughter!
Common Raven
The Common Raven is a larger corvid relative of the American Crow that also produces laughing-like vocalizations. Ravens make a wide array of calls, from croaks and rattles to clear, bell-like notes. Among these diverse sounds is a chuckling call that resembles rapid human laughter.
This laughing sound consists of short, staccato notes in groups of two or three. It is thought to communicate excitement or agitation among a flock of ravens. Listen for the laughing calls around large winter raven roosts or near nest sites during the spring breeding season.
In Ohio, Common Ravens are more common in the south and east, with breeding populations along cliffsides and open habitats. But in winter, ravens may wander widely across the state in search of food sources. So keep an ear out for the chuckling laugh of a Common Raven when spending time outdoors in Ohio.
Black-billed Magpie
The Black-billed Magpie is the only magpie species found in Ohio. Related to crows and jays, magpies are highly vocal and have a wide repertoire of sounds. Among their varied vocalizations is a strange, almost maniacal laugh, sounding more like something out of Hollywood than the Ohio woods!
The Black-billed Magpie’s laughing call is a fast series of staccato, squeaky notes. It is thought to advertise excitement, convey agitation near the nest, or as an alarm call to warn of danger. Listen for this memorable laughing call from dense thickets, parks, rural areas, and agricultural areas across northern and central Ohio.
Though the population is small in Ohio, any sighting of a Black-billed Magpie is made even more memorable by its comical, almost sinister laughing vocalization echoing through the landscape.
How to Identify the Laughing Bird Calls in Ohio
When trying to identify a laughing bird by ear in Ohio, consider the following identification tips:
- The Blue Jay’s laughing call is a series of short, nasal, chuckling notes sounding like high-pitched giggling.
- The American Crow’s laugh is a staccato and rolling cackle, often given in a series while perched or flying.
- The Common Raven produces repetitive chuckling sounds in short bursts of two or three notes.
- Black-billed Magpies give a strange, squeaky, maniacal call resembling frenzied laughter.
Pay attention to the habitat as well – Blue Jays and crows are found statewide, while magpies occur locally in northern Ohio and ravens are primarily in eastern and southern areas. With practice, the distinctive laughing calls of Ohio’s corvid birds can be easily distinguished by attentive birders.
Why Do Birds Make Laughing Sounds?
The use of laughing-like vocalizations by corvid birds likely first evolved to communicate levels of excitement, anxiety, or agitation within social groups such as family units or flocks. For example, the staccato laughing calls of crows and ravens may help coordinate activities at communal roosts or signal alarm near nests or feeding sites. Similar chuckling vocalizations by jays and magpies also seem to convey information on emotional states to flock mates.
Making these laughing sounds helps coordinate behaviors among social groups and may strengthen social bonds between mates or family units. The use of laughter-like vocalizations in signaling excitement or alarm then expanded further through cultural transmission between generations and local populations of corvids.
Today, the laughing calls form an integral part of the diverse language of communication used by highly intelligent corvid species. The use of a human-like laughing sound adds an element of humor and amusement but serves important functions in the daily lives of corvids.
When and Where to Listen for Laughing Birds in Ohio
The best opportunities to hear and identify laughing bird calls in Ohio come during the following scenarios:
- Near Blue Jay, crow, raven, or magpie nests in spring when parents become agitated and anxious defending their young.
- Among flocks of crows or ravens in late winter when they gather at large communal roosting sites.
- In areas where two territorial jays, crows, or magpies are interacting aggressively, such as on territorial boundaries.
- During autumn when jays, crows, and magpies form large feeding flocks that become excited at abundant food sources.
- Near backyard bird feeders where corvids gather and become agitated by other birds or animals.
Try spending more time outdoors during spring and fall mornings or visiting large winter corvid roosts around sunrise or sunset. Stay quiet and listen carefully when near corvid nests or feeding sites. With luck and perseverance, you’ll be rewarded with the comical sounds of laughing birds brightening up the Ohio landscape.
Other Ohio Birds with Unusual Vocalizations
While corvids make some of the most recognizable laughing calls, other Ohio birds also produce bizarre and unique sounds:
- Wild Turkeys – Males “gobble” loudly, while females make clicking and yelping sounds.
- Northern Flickers – These woodpeckers make loud, laughing calls that trail down in pitch.
- Brown Thrashers – Aptly named, thrashers make harsh, squeaky sounds.
- Pileated Woodpeckers – Their loud, maniacal-sounding calls echo through forests.
- Eastern Screech Owls – Varied whinnying, trilling and barking calls.
So keep an ear out for these and other vocal characters when enjoying Ohio’s bird life. The diversity of avian sounds is one of the joys of birdwatching for any nature enthusiast in the Buckeye State.
Conclusion
The laughing calls produced by certain Ohio corvid species provide an element of surprise and humor to birdwatching in the state. Blue Jays, American Crows, Common Ravens, and Black-billed Magpies are the top “laughing birds” found in Ohio woodlands, fields, and neighborhoods. Their chuckling, cackling, and squeaky calls sound amazingly human-like.
Listening for and identifying these laughing bird vocalizations takes some practice but offers a fun challenge for birders. With patience and good timing during key seasons and activities, observers can detect and appreciate these comical sounds enriching Ohio’s diverse bird life. So keep your ears open when outdoors and wait for that joyous moment when wildlife seems to erupt in laughter around you!