Baby Macaw Makes 'Whisper Honks' As He Falls Asleep, and the Sound Is Pure Magic
Dogs might get a lot of flak for their loud barks, but if you really want to talk about animals who make a lot of noise, birds might be the clear winner. Sure, some of them can actually learn to talk, but when they're not chatting, they're making all kinds of other noises to communicate (or, in some cases, to hear their own voice. If you have a bird like this, you already know).
And boy, are some of these noises cute. Case in point: The baby Macaw in the video below, who is making the softest, most precious sounds as he tries to fall asleep.
@vnunez05 I tried to catch him putting himself to sleep with his whisper honks, no background noise this time #BabyMacaw#ParrotTok#BirdTok#HarlequinMacaw#PetTok
original sound - Vanessa Nunez
This video shared by @vnunez05 on TikTok shows a tiny Macaw sitting in the car, all bundled up in a pet bed, trying to soothe himself to sleep with these teeny little noises that his human describes as "whisper honks."
In a comment, his mom shared that he's just three months old, so this little guy really is brand new to the world. He must be protected at all costs!
Not only does this bird sound so cute, but he's also incredibly gorgeous. Those vibrant colors are everything!
Of course, in other moments that his mom has shared on TikTok (like the video below, where she's feeding him) he's a bit less like an innocent newborn and more like a wild toddler, but just as cute all the same.
@vnunez05 Feeding has gotten easier although it's still a full contact sport. We are now incorporating fresh chop in the line up #ExoticPets#MacawBaby#VelcroBird#PetTok#ParrotLife
Tchaikovsky "Dance of the Reed Flutes"(1257471) - kzy
Related: ‘Offended' Macaw Holds a Grudge-Until Mom Says 3 Important Words
Why Birds Make Soft Sounds While Drifting to Sleep
There are a few different reasons why birds might make noises while they're falling asleep, but a big one is known as "flock reassurance," which is a way that they keep themselves safe in what could be vulnerable moments.
Of course, birds use their calls and other sounds to communicate with each other in the wild, and as Road Scholar points out, sometimes, the purpose of that communication is to keep the flock safe from predators. This means that those soft sounds that your bird makes while they're falling asleep could be their way of tricking any predators who might be around into thinking they're still awake so they will be left alone.
Birds will also call to each other at night to establish their territory. Once they've found a cozy place to sleep, they want everyone to know that it's taken. No sharing!
The sweet baby in the TikTok video fortunately doesn't have to defend himself while he's snoozing, but he totally could if he needed to. Well, maybe if he learns to sound just a bit less adorable.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 12:30 PM.