There are a few birds species around the world that are known for making crying or wailing noises that sound similar to a human baby’s cry. The most well-known of these birds is the Kookaburra, a bird native to Australia. The Kookaburra is known for its unique call that resembles loud, echoing human laughter. However, the Kookaburra can also make a wailing noise that sounds uncannily like a crying baby.
Other birds that are known for their crying-like calls include the Kea, a large parrot found in New Zealand, and the White-throated Rail, a marsh bird native to Africa. Certain types of seagulls are also sometimes noted for cries that sound like a wailing baby. Let’s take a closer look at some of these “crying” bird species and the reasons behind their human-like vocalizations.
The Kookaburra
The Laughing Kookaburra is a species of kingfisher native to eastern Australia. It is best known for its unique laugh-like territorial call, which sounds uncannily like human laughter. However, the Kookaburra has another call that resembles the wailing cry of a human baby.
The Kookaburra’s crying-baby call is mainly made during breeding season. Both the male and female Kookaburra may make this call to establish pair bonds and defend territory. The call is thought to serve several functions:
- Attract a mate
- Define territorial boundaries
- Scare away potential intruders and threats
- Signal alarm if another bird encroaches on its territory
When analyzed, the acoustics of the Kookaburra’s cry are remarkably similar to a human infant’s wail:
- High-pitched tone ranging from 300-600 Hz
- Rising and falling oscillations in pitch and frequency
- Sound harmonics giving a wavering, vibrating quality
- Noisy, breathy quality alongside pure cries
Scientists suggest the Kookaburra’s baby-like cry most likely evolved to grab attention and ward off threats. The familiar sound of a human baby in distress triggers an innate protective response – even in humans who hear the Kookaburra’s cry! So this vocalization helps the birds scare away intruders and define territories.
Kookaburra Cry Sound Clip
Here is an audio clip of the Kookaburra’s distinctive baby-like wailing:
The Kea
The Kea is a large, mountain-dwelling parrot found in forested alpine regions of New Zealand’s South Island. The Kea is considered one of the most intelligent bird species in the world, known for its curiosity and playful nature. The Kea is also capable of imitating a wide variety of sounds – including the crying voices of human babies.
Kea nest in burrows or crevices in tree trunks and cliff faces. When nesting, adult Kea produce wailing calls that sound nearly identical to a bawling human infant. These cries are thought to help reinforce social bonds between mated pairs during breeding season.
Some key similarities between Kea cries and human baby cries:
- High-pitched tone ranging from 300-800 Hz
- Keening, wavering quality
- Rising and falling pitch changes
- Occasional lower-pitched guttural sounds mixed in
Because Kea are intelligent mimics, they are also able to perfectly imitate the nuances of a crying human baby when kept in captivity. Wild Kea produce a very convincing infant-like wail, likely thanks to the broad vocal range and control they possess.
Kea Cry Audio Clip
Listen to this example of the Kea’s eerie, baby-like cry in the wild:
The White-throated Rail
The White-throated Rail is a nocturnal marsh bird found across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It prefers densely vegetated wetlands and riverine habitats. In the daytime, the White-throated Rail typically stays hidden in reeds and grasses. At night, it emerges to feed on insects, worms, fish and amphibians.
The White-throated Rail is not known for elaborate or melodious calls. But one of its most common vocalizations is a far-carrying, wailing cry that closely mimics the shrill weeping of a human baby.
This eerie, infant-like wailing is thought to help the rails stay in contact with each other across marshes at night. The cries likely also play a role in defending territories and attracting mates. When one rail begins wailing, others in the area quickly join in cacophonous “chorusing.”
Key features of the White-throated Rail’s baby-like wailing:
- Piercing tone around 300-900 Hz
- Warbling, rising-falling pitch
- Tremulous wavering effect
- Drawn-out sobs punctuated by brief pauses
The White-throated Rail’s cries are most prominent at dawn and dusk, but may continue sporadically through the night. Unsuspecting humans camping near marshes have frequently been startled awake by these disturbingly infant-like wails piercing the darkness!
White-throated Rail Cry Audio Clip
Here is a recording of the White-throated Rail’s eerie, crying-baby vocalizations:
Seagulls
Certain species of seagulls are also sometimes noted for calls that sound like wailing or crying human babies. Seagulls are highly adaptable, opportunistic birds found throughout coastal regions around the world. They occupy beaches, harbors, landfills, and anywhere they can easily obtain fish and other food discarded by humans.
Some key things to know about seagulls that make baby cries:
- It is mostly fledgling gulls that produce baby-like calls
- Their cries are most common during late spring and early summer nesting periods
- High-pitched, wavering notes in the 300-600 Hz range
- Plaintive wails and sobs mimic distress calls
- May be an exaggerated begging behavior to solicit more food from parents
Species of gulls noted for infant-like cries include the Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and Laughing Gull. The cries are produced by chicks and juveniles when parents arrive with food or when competing with sibling birds in the nest.
Seagull Cry Audio Clip
Listen to this example of a begging juvenile seagull producing baby-like wails:
Why Do Birds Mimic Baby Cries?
Birds mimic the distressed crying of human babies for a variety of reasons:
- Get attention of other birds
- Attract mates during breeding season
- Scare away intruders and perceived threats
- Beg for food from parents (juveniles)
- Invoke protective response in adult birds
- Reinforce social bonds
- Defend nesting sites and territories
The baby-like cries tap into parental instincts in other birds, causing them to react protectively. Birds in distress also cry out loudly to get attention and rally aid.
Some key theories on why certain birds evolved uncanny baby cry mimicry:
- Startles predators and intruders
- Grabs attention rapidly
- Triggers innate nurturing response
- Makes birds seem vulnerable/non-threatening
- Mimics a familiar sound likely to evoke reaction
By mimicking the characteristic features of a human baby’s wail – high pitch, rising/falling oscillations, tremolo effect – birds can take advantage of parents’ hard-wired instinct to respond to crying infants. The familiar-sounding cries are difficult to ignore.
Notable Examples of Crying Baby Birds
| Bird | Location | Sound Feature | Audio Clip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing Kookaburra | Eastern Australia | Rising and falling oscillating pitch, 300-600 Hz frequency | |
| Kea | New Zealand | Wavering, keening quality, 300-800 Hz | |
| White-throated Rail | Sub-Saharan Africa | Warbling pitch, tremolo effect, 300-900 Hz | |
| Herring Gull | Coastal regions worldwide | Plaintive wails, sobs, 300-600 Hz |
Conclusion
In summary, several bird species around the world – including the Kookaburra, Kea, White-throated Rail, and certain seagulls – are renowned for producing calls that mimic the crying of a human baby. Analyses have found striking acoustic similarities between these birds’ cries and actual infant wailing. The baby-like vocalizations likely evolved to grab attention, attract mates, deter predators, and invoke parental protective urges in other birds. While the cries may sound bizarre and unearthly to humans, they serve important functions for these remarkable bird species. The next time you hear a strange bird cry that seems to resemble a baby’s wail, it just might be one of these fascinating avian mimics!
