If you think construction noise is loud, wait until you hear these birds. A new scientific study has identified two species native to Brazil, the bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema, as the loudest callers in the animal kingdom, surpassing sounds you’d normally associate with heavy machinery or massive land mammals.
According to the research, these birds generate acoustic output that rivals or exceeds the noise levels produced by jackhammers, chain saws, and even elephants, animals typically thought of as among the loudest creatures on Earth. That’s a striking finding, considering how small and lightweight birds are compared to the heavy equipment and massive mammals they’re now being compared to.
The bare-throated bellbird is already known among bird enthusiasts in South America for its metallic, bell-like call that can carry for long distances through dense forest. The red-legged seriema, a striking, long-legged bird found in open grasslands and savannas across Brazil, is less famous for its volume but apparently belongs in the same extreme category.
Scientists studying animal communication are often interested in how creatures evolve to produce sounds that travel far, pierce background noise, or intimidate rivals and predators, and these two species seem to be remarkable examples of that evolutionary pressure at work.
Curious how researchers measured these ear-splitting calls? Read the full report at the link above.
Source: These Birds Are Louder Than Elephants, Jackhammers and Chain Saws (rss.nytimes.com).
Image: Instituto Últimos Refúgios, BY-SA 4.0 (via Openverse).