Birds communicate in a variety of ways, including through vocalizations. Some bird calls sound like the common name we use for that bird species. One bird that is commonly thought to say its name is the cuckoo.
What is a cuckoo bird?
The cuckoo is a family of birds called Cuculidae that are found worldwide. There are over 140 different species of cuckoo. Some well-known types of cuckoos include the common cuckoo, yellow-billed cuckoo, and roadrunner.
Cuckoos are medium-sized slender birds with long tails. They have small heads and short legs with strong feet. Most cuckoos have gray, brown, or rufous plumage with some white or black markings. Their bills are curved and pointed.
These birds inhabit forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Cuckoos are solitary birds and do not form breeding pairs. Instead, female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species to be raised by those surrogate parents. This reproductive strategy is called brood parasitism.
The call of the cuckoo bird
The most well-known vocalization of the cuckoo is their “coo-coo” call. This two-note call sounds very similar to the word “cuckoo.”
Each cuckoo species has its own distinct version of the call. For example, the common cuckoo’s call is a clear descending “coo-coo.” The yellow-billed cuckoo makes a rattling “cow cow cow cow” sound. Roadrunners have a descending cooing sound followed by a rapid trill.
Only male cuckoos make the characteristic “cuckoo” call. Females sometimes make a bubbling sound. Cuckoo chicks make a distinctive begging call to their foster parents.
Cuckoos call most frequently during the breeding season to attract mates and defend territories. Their voices carry well through forests and wetlands. The calls are often heard but the birds stay hidden from view.
How the cuckoo got its name
The cuckoo likely got its common name from the sound of its call which sounds like it is saying “cuckoo.” This onomatopoeic name mimics the bird’s vocalization.
The word “cuckoo” is an ancient one that has its origins in Latin. In the early 13th century, the bird was referred to as “cucu.” This eventually evolved into the modern name “cuckoo.”
The cuckoo has had a variety of other folk names over time including gowk, gawk, gouk, and sometime cuckow. But its onomatopoeic “cuckoo” call has endured across languages as its most well-known name.
Other birds that say their names
While the cuckoo is the bird most known for appearing to say its name, there are other birds with vocalizations that sound similar to their common monikers:
- Whip-poor-wills: These nocturnal birds make a distinct “whip-poor-will” call that echoes through the night.
- Bobwhites: Also known as the bobwhite quail, these plump game birds make a whistled “bob-WHITE” call.
- Chickadees: Many species in this family of tiny songbirds, like the black-capped chickadee, have names that come from their “chick-a-dee-dee” vocalizations.
- Killdeers: True to their name, these shorebirds loudly vocalize a piercing “kill-deer” sound.
While not quite a perfect match, the barred owl is sometimes noted for its call that sounds like “who cooks for you.” Saw-whet owls also make a high-pitched “toot toot” call that resembles its name.
Why do some birds vocalize their names?
It is no coincidence that some birds seem to vocally say their common names. This happens because the onomatopoeic names we use for certain bird species are derived from human interpretations of the sounds the birds make.
Bird “language” consists of vocalizations like calls, songs, and alarm cries. While bird sounds have biological meaning for birds, humans perceive some of their vocalizations as similar to words we use, like “cuckoo” and “whip-poor-will.”
When European settlers and naturalists began formally naming and cataloging North American birds in the 18th and 19th centuries, many species were given onomatopoeic names mimicking their distinctive vocalizations.
So, these birds don’t intentionally call out their names. But, through onomatopoeia, their sounds to our ears seem name-like. The names given to these birds were inspired by human interpretations of their natural bird calls over time.
Significance of onomatopoeic bird names
Bird names that sound similar to their calls provide useful clues about what to listen for when trying to identify birds in nature. For beginning birders, an onomatopoeic name can help cue them into the possible vocalization.
However, while many birds have names derived from their sounds, voices can vary across wide ranges. So sound alone should not be relied upon completely for identification without confirming visual traits.
Besides aiding identification, onomatopoeic names also help convey the unique voices of different bird species. The names are often fun, whimsical, and catchy – like the bird calls themselves.
Other examples of onomatopoeia in language
Onomatopoeia, or words formed in imitation of sounds, are not limited to bird names. Some other examples in English include:
- Animal sounds: Meow, moo, baa, oink
- Nature sounds: Buzz, hiss, crackle
- Human sounds: Achoo, shhh, giggle
- Object sounds: Pop, bang, tick-tock
Onomatopoeic words help language come alive. They add fun, textured description mirroring sounds in the real world. This linguistic device connects language directly to sensory experience.
Conclusion
The cuckoo is most renowned for appearing to vocally say its own name in its iconic “coo-coo” call. This famous onomatopoeic bird name mimics the cuckoo’s sound to our ears. Other birds like whip-poor-wills and chickadees also have names derived from their vocalizations.
These onomatopoeic bird names were given to mimic the sounds humans heard. The birds are not actually calling their own names. But the English names we use for them are directly inspired by interpretations of their sounds.
Onomatopoeia adds color and vividness to language. Fun bird names that seem to speak themselves provide convenience to birders and showcase the diversity of avian voices.
