A friend went to a local concert where a cuíca was played. She described the instrument as a "tin can." I found a video showing how to make a cuíca from a tin can. I found another video showing a more formal version of a cuíca as a featured instrument.
My friend told me that it sounded something like a bird. It makes me think of sound effects on the Saturday morning cartoons I watched as a child in the 1950s and makes me smile today.
