A bird whistle found at Mundigak. Bird whistles are among the most enduring of objects in South Asia, with thousands of years of history behind them as objects of everyday use.

Jonathan Mark Kenoyer writes: "Musical instruments were also made for children. Terracotta rattles and whistles shaped like a small partridge or dove have been found at most sites in the core regions of the Indus civilization. In traditional communities in Pakistan today, rattles are often used by jugglers to make noise while performing, and bird whistles are often used to coax pet birds to call" (Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, p. 133).

Compare this to a bird whistle from Harappa.