Bird song study reveals secrets of loud animal calls

Researchers recorded the songs and calls of 123 bird species to understand how certain birds achieve extreme volume. João Menezes and Jefferey Podos from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, carried out this work between December 2018 and January 2025. Their recordings took place in Massachusetts as well as across several Brazilian states. These locations include São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima, and Amazonas. Findings show that the bare-throated bellbird, native to the Atlantic Forest of northeastern South America, can reach pneumatic-drill-level volume. This high sound output is helped by the bird having an extra-large gape. Observations also indicate that this species can surpass its cousin, the white bellbird, in loudness by certain measures.

Context

Animal vocalizations often play key roles in mating and territory defense, leading certain species to evolve specialized physical traits for producing extremely loud sounds. Field recordings and comparative biology help scientists map out how different traits develop across various animal families over time.