Loudest Bird Species Discovered
New University Study Identifies Two Bird Species With Calls Exceeding 120 Decibels
Anonymous
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study measuring calls from 123 bird species identified the bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema as contenders for the loudest bird, with calls exceeding 120 decibels. Rankings depend on the measure used: an individual bare-throated bellbird reached nearly 131 decibels, the red-legged seriema had the highest average among sampled birds under one measure, and the white bellbird remains top under another. The researchers found that louder calls tend to be associated with larger bodies and wider beak openings. The study examines how birds’ physical traits, ecology and social behavior relate to call volume; why extreme loudness evolved remains uncertain.
Key Points
1
The researchers said measuring bird calls in the field is difficult because recorded amplitude depends on distance; capturing birds for controlled laboratory tests is impractical when comparing many species across countries.
2
The study’s quietest recorded species, the dusky-throated hermit hummingbird, called at 64.1 decibels; the bare-throated bellbird’s 122.4-decibel call was about 800 times greater in sound pressure.
3
The researchers suggested that about 120 decibels may be near the physical limit for birds, meaning other exceptionally loud species may exist but are unlikely to be much louder.
4
Study co-author Jeff Podos said the contest over which bird is loudest is not the main scientific question: “What's really interesting is: there are some species of animals that have evolved to be super loud, and we just wonder why that is.”
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
7
Articles
37
Reach
44
A
AnonymousAuthor
