Two birds are in a noisy competition to be declared the loudest bird in the world: the bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema, both producing calls that exceed 120 decibels. This finding is from a study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, published in Evolution.
Previously, the white bellbird held the title for the loudest bird based on measurements taken in 2019. However, due to variability in individual birds and measurement techniques, it’s challenging to crown a single winner, resulting in a joint title for the three species.
The study, published on September 29, involved sound measurements from 123 bird species, revealing a range from 64 decibels in some hummingbirds to 122 decibels in a member of the cotinga family. Accurate sound measurements required the use of laser rangefinders to account for the distance between the birds and recording equipment, as sound dissipates over distance.
The researchers discovered that larger birds with wider beaks typically produce louder calls. Other factors, such as habitat and mating systems, did not show consistent patterns. Interestingly, the loudest birds—two bellbirds and a seriema—have very different lifestyles, suggesting there may be other undiscovered loud species waiting to be measured.
