Happy April (Bird) Fool's Day!

Happy April Fool’s Day! Humans are not the only species that plays tricks – below are five birds you can see around Chicago that have honed their ability to fool their intended audience, or even you if you’re not paying close enough attention!

Blue Jay: Have you ever been birding and suddenly heard a gravelly Red-tailed Hawk? That probably wasn’t a hawk with a cold. Almost certainly it was a Blue Jay. Although not as well-known a mimic as the Northern Mockingbird, the Blue Jay is able to imitate various raptors such as Ospreys and American Kestrels. Although there is no definitive answer yet as to why they do so, theories suggest that they want to scare off the competition for food sources or warn other birds of approaching danger. You can enjoy the company of Blue Jays all year long in Chicago.

Blue Jay, Audubon Photography Awards/Kathy Brady

Brown Thrasher: The bird considered by many to be the greatest mimic of all is actually not the Northern Mockingbird – it’s the Brown Thrasher, which can boast a repertoire of over 1,000 songs. Examples of birds it can impersonate include Northern Flickers, Chuck-will’s-widows, and Wood Thrushes. One reason why the Brown Thrasher is not as well recognized is because it stays hidden. In fact, some of the songs of a thrasher have been attributed to its showier mockingbird relative. Breeding in the Chicago area, the thrasher camouflages easily amidst dense vegetation, thus it takes a sharp eye to discern where Toxostoma rufum is hiding.

Brown Thrasher, Audubon Photography Awards/Peter Waksmundzki

Green Heron: Another bird that can blend in easily with its surroundings is the Green Heron. Most of its feathers are forest green, while its neck is chestnut colored. This heron uses its plumage to its advantage, melting into the background as it waits for unsuspecting fish to swim by. It lures its prey even closer by dropping twigs, feathers, and even live insects onto the water’s surface. The unknowing fish then come close enough to be grabbed and eaten. If you hope to see a Green Heron, you may spot one in Chicago during their breeding season, which generally runs from March to July.

Green Heron, Audubon Photography Awards/George Etter

Killdeer: On the flip side, the Killdeer is a bird that tricks its predators. When it sees, for instance, a fox lurking near its nest (a shallow depression on the ground), this plover will bring attention all to itself by running around and calling loudly. Once the predator is focused on them, the bird will pretend that it has a broken wing and drag itself away from the nest. As soon as the threat is far enough away, the Killdeer will suddenly recover and find its way back to its now safe and sound eggs. A fun fact about Killdeer is that even though they are shorebirds, you may find them in your backyard during their breeding season starting in mid-March and ending in August.

Killdeer, Audubon Photography Awards/Paul Kusmin


Yellow-billed Cuckoo: The cuckoo in general is probably the best-known practitioner of brood parasitism. One particular species of the Cuculidae family is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which has been spotted in Chicago and is known to raise its own young. However, what this trickster may also do is lay its eggs in another bird’s nest – even sometimes in the nest of another Yellow-billed Cuckoo! Other victims include Gray Catbirds, American Robins, Wood Thrushes, and the Black-billed Cuckoo.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Audubon Photography Awards/Mary Miguez

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