This is bird note.

Tripping on a branch of a rock is no fun, and sometimes it sounds like the birds are

providing a laugh track for your mistake.

That's the American Crow's rattle call.

It's uncommon, and researchers aren't sure what it means.

Could be a gathering call, a predator alarm, or a call between mates.

But if you hear it, you might think it sounds like cackling laughter.

Who knows?

Maybe that turtle in the trees was directed at you.

But does the crow mean it?

American crows have more than 20 different calls.

They're playful, curious, and intelligent.

But no one has identified a crow noise that indicates glee at the expense of another

creature.

It's just a coincidence that the rattle sounds like a laugh.

However, crows can play pranks on other animals.

There are reports of crows egging on cats to fight, and yanking on dog tails for their

own amusement.

It's called unrewarded object exploration.

They aren't pranking for survival.

As far as we can tell, it's just for fun.

So it seems that crows have something like a sense of humor.

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