Two Birds Clear 120 Decibels, Raising a New Question About Nature’s Loudest Calls
decibel
A unit scientists use to compare sound levels.
laser rangefinder
A tool that measures distance with laser light.
peak
The loudest moment in a call.
What happened
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst measured the calls of 123 bird species. They were not trying to crown the loudest bird. They wanted to test whether a bird’s body could predict its call volume.
That survey revealed two strong contenders: the bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema. Both exceeded 120 decibels at the loudest part of their calls. That is comparable to the sound of chainsaws and jackhammers. The result does not settle a world title. In 2019, the male white bellbird held the record for the loudest recorded bird call. The new measurements may challenge that record, but they do not replace it yet.
Why field measurements mattered
Loudness changes with distance. A call can sound huge nearby and much quieter far away. That makes comparisons unreliable unless researchers measure distance too.
The team worked outdoors around Amherst, Massachusetts, and across Brazil. They collected recordings from December 2018 through January 2025. Portable sound meters measured the calls. Laser rangefinders measured how far away each bird was. Of the 123 species, 113 had no earlier volume record.
The biggest and smallest maximum readings differed by 58 decibels. A hummingbird measured 64 decibels. That was close to normal conversation. The two contenders rose above 120 decibels at their peaks.
The body clues
The loudest species were usually larger. They also tended to have bulkier muscles. Those muscles may help compress more air for a powerful burst. The birds also had wider beak openings. A broad opening may help release or amplify the sound, somewhat like the wide bell of a trumpet.
These patterns show how body shape may help produce volume. They do not prove that one body part alone creates the call. The researchers found a relationship across species, not a complete mechanical explanation.
Why the study matters
The record angle is only the visible part of the work. The researchers are studying how evolution shapes bird communication. A bird’s call can carry information across space. Its volume may connect to its body, habitat, or social life.
By measuring 123 species, the team created a much larger starting point. The 113 species without earlier measurements are especially valuable. Future studies can now compare their calls with better baseline data.
What remains unknown
The researchers tested several broader ideas. Perhaps loud birds fly less strongly. Perhaps they live in dense habitats, where birds cannot see each other. Perhaps loud calls help birds attract more mates.
The data did not support clear, general links with flight ability, habitat density, or mating systems. The study therefore answers some how questions, but not the main why question. Larger bodies and wider beaks are clues. They do not explain why evolution favored extreme volume in particular birds.
What to watch next
Researchers need measurements from many more species. They also need consistent methods across places and field conditions. That work could test whether the bare-throated bellbird or red-legged seriema truly challenges the white bellbird’s record.
The bigger question is broader than a contest. Scientists want to learn when loudness helps a bird survive, communicate, or find a mate. For now, these two birds are powerful candidates, not a final champion.
Two Birds May Be Nature’s Loudest Callers
📰 Full story: Two Birds Clear 120 Decibels, Raising a New Question About Nature’s Loudest Calls
Scientists compared 123 species and found two birds with huge calls.
decibel
A unit for comparing how loud sounds are.
laser rangefinder
A tool that measures distance with laser light.
field recording
A sound collected outdoors.
💡 The gist
- Two birds called above 120 decibels.
- Their calls matched the loudness of jackhammers.
- Scientists have not named a final champion.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studied 123 bird species. They measured the loudness of bird calls.
The bare-throated bellbird is a forest bird studied in Brazil. The red-legged seriema is a ground bird with a loud call. Both birds made calls above 120 decibels.
A decibel is a unit for comparing sounds. A hummingbird measured 64 decibels. That was close to normal conversation. The loud birds reached levels like chainsaws and jackhammers.
Distance matters when scientists measure sound. A nearby call seems louder. A distant call seems softer. The researchers used portable sound meters. They also used laser rangefinders. Those tools measured each bird’s distance.
The team worked in Massachusetts and Brazil. They collected field recordings from 2018 to 2025. Of the 123 species, 113 had no earlier loudness record. That missing information made bird comparisons difficult. The new measurements give scientists a stronger starting point.
The study found a body pattern. Bigger birds often made louder calls. They also tended to have wider beak openings. Bigger muscles may help push air harder. Wider beaks may help send sound outward. These findings support a connection, not a simple rule. Every large bird will not be the loudest.
These clues explain part of the how. They do not fully explain the why. Scientists tested several ideas about loud birds. Maybe they fly less strongly. Maybe they live in thick forests. Maybe loud calls attract more mates.
The data showed no clear pattern for those ideas. So, scientists still cannot say why some birds shout so powerfully.
The study was not only a search for a record. It builds better information about bird communication. Future researchers can compare many more species.
The white bellbird held the earlier record. The new study may challenge that record. More careful measurements must decide that question.
Two Birds Can Shout Like Big Machines
📰 Full story: Two Birds Clear 120 Decibels, Raising a New Question About Nature’s Loudest Calls
Scientists found two birds with amazingly loud calls.
decibel
A number that shows how loud a sound is.
sound meter
A tool that measures how loud something is.
white bellbird
A bird that held the earlier loud-call record.
Scientists listened to 123 kinds of birds.
They found two very loud birds. The bare-throated bellbird is a forest bird. The red-legged seriema is a ground bird. Their calls went above 120 decibels. A decibel is a number for sound size. That was about as loud as a jackhammer.
A hummingbird measured 64 decibels. That was close to everyday talking.
Scientists used a sound meter outside. They also measured the distance to each bird. Faraway sounds seem smaller. The team listened in Massachusetts and Brazil.
Big birds often had big voices. They also had wider beaks. Big muscles may help push more air. Scientists still do not know why.
They tested ideas about flying, forests, and mates. The ideas did not fit every bird. Another bird, the white bellbird, had the old record. More bird sounds may show whether that changes.