Bird Loudness Linked to Body Size and Beak Gape, Study Finds

A study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has revealed the anatomical factors behind how some birds can produce sound at the level of construction machinery. The work also raises new questions about why such extreme volume evolved.

Scientists João Menezes and Jeff Podos examined sound data from 123 different species. They found that a bird's loudness is directly tied to its anatomy: the larger the body and the wider the beak gape, the more strongly acoustic energy radiates into the surroundings.

Records and comparisons

In 2019 measurements, the white bellbird, a close relative of the bare-throated bellbird, set a record with a 125-decibel call. New research suggests this limit could also be exceeded. The Canada goose reaches chainsaw level (100 decibels), while starlings manage only about the noise of a dishwasher (70 decibels).

The experts also examined variables such as mating rituals, habitat density and flight ability, but found no general rule across all species explaining why such extreme volume evolved. The question remains unanswered for now.