Quick Answer:
There are a few birds native to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia that make crying or wailing sounds similar to a human baby:
- The pied currawong
- The Australian magpie
- The grey butcherbird
- The laughing kookaburra
Of these, the most likely suspects for the crying sounds are the currawong and magpie. The currawong’s call has been described as sounding like a baby crying, while magpies are infamous for their loud, complex vocalizations, sometimes described as sounding like a baby wailing.
More Detailed Answer:
Several birds native to the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland can produce vocalizations that to human ears sound similar to a crying baby. Here are some of the most likely culprits:
Pied Currawong
The pied currawong (Strepera graculina) is a medium-sized black bird with white patches found throughout eastern Australia. One of its many vocalizations is a loud, wailing cry that has been described as sounding like a baby crying. The call is used for communication between currawongs and carries over long distances.
Australian Magpie
Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) are ubiquitous birds found throughout much of Australia. They are known for their complex vocalizations, which include a variety of barks, squawks, and screeches. The piercing alarm call they make when defending their nests often sounds eerily similar to a wailing human baby.
Grey Butcherbird
The grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a songbird found along Australia’s east coast. It is renowned for its diverse and melodious song, which includes excellent mimicry of other birds. One of its calls is a loud wail that descends in pitch, which can sound much like a human infant’s cry.
Laughing Kookaburra
The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaguineae) is Australia’s largest kingfisher. Its iconic call is a loud, laughing “koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa” that carries through the forest. Though not exactly like a baby crying, the kookaburra’s descending scale of laughter could potentially be mistaken for a crying infant’s wails.
When and Where the Crying Sounds Are Heard
The bird cries are most frequently heard during the spring breeding season, when birds are defending nests and establishing territories. The noises can occur at any time of day, but are often most vocal in the early morning and evening.
Listen for the crying sounds in areas where these birds are found, especially near trees and open woodlands. Parks, suburbs, and forested areas near the Sunshine Coast’s towns and cities are likely spots.
Examples of the Crying Bird Sounds
Here are some video examples of the crying-like vocalizations made by currawongs, magpies, butcherbirds, and kookaburras:
How to Distinguish the Bird Calls from a Real Baby
While the bird calls may sound eerily human at first, there are some key differences that can help identify that it is just a bird:
- The crying sounds are usually short and repetitive, unlike a real baby.
- The bird cries lack the nuances, variations, and emotion of a real infant.
- The calls are louder and carry much farther than a baby’s cries would.
- Searching the trees and skies should reveal a bird as the source, not a human infant.
- The cries may be accompanied by other non-human sounds like squawks or bird song.
If in doubt, follow the sound to pinpoint its origin and confirm it is one of the crying birds and not a human baby needing assistance.
Conclusion
Birds like the pied currawong, Australian magpie, grey butcherbird, and laughing kookaburra perfectly mimic a crying baby’s wail with their loud, descending vocalizations. However, being able to distinguish these bird calls from the real thing based on factors like repetition, lack of emotion, and visibility of the bird can provide reassurance that it is just Australia’s clever native birds at work, not a distressed infant.
