Some Indians, however, regard the gray jay with so deep a respect that they will not give away the secret of a nest, much less harm the bird itself. Trusting and easily tamed, the gray jay is good company for men in lonely places. The gray jay utters a great variety of notes and noises. Some are softly whistled notes, some melodiously intoned, others are sharp and harsh noises. A series of quickly repeated scolding notes sound like chuckles of toneless laughter.
Pairs always exchange soft notes, sometimes interspersed with harsher sounds.
On rare occasions the gray jay will mount into the top of a spruce, or sit hidden among its branches, and sing. The song is muted, full of whistles, warbles and soft shrieks, a prolonged and very musical performance. The gray jay mates for life, but when one dies the other usually mates again. Its family life is close. When one is seen, the other is not far behind.