Scientists Identify Three of the Loudest Birds in the World

Scientists have identified three bird species in Brazil that may rank among the loudest birds ever measured, revealing just how powerful some birds can make their voices.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst studied the vocalizations of three species: the white bellbird, the screaming piha and the southern screaming piha. Their findings were published in the journal Evolution on September 29, 2026.

A Tiny Bird With an Extraordinary Voice

The white bellbird is already known for producing one of the most powerful sounds recorded from any bird. Earlier research measured its call at more than 125 decibels at close range.

What makes the discovery remarkable is the size of the birds. White bellbirds are relatively small, yet males can produce extremely intense calls during their courtship displays.

The researchers are interested in how birds can generate such powerful sounds without causing obvious damage to their own hearing. The answer may involve the way their vocal systems and bodies have evolved to produce short but extremely intense sounds.

Why Do They Need to Be So Loud?

Scientists believe the birds’ loud calls are connected to communication and mating. In dense tropical forests, sound can be an effective way for birds to attract mates or communicate over distances where visibility is limited.

However, producing louder sounds also comes with physical limitations. Previous research has shown that extremely powerful animal vocalizations are constrained by factors including anatomy, airflow and the physics of sound travelling through air.

A New Look at Birdsong

The new research gives scientists another opportunity to understand why some birds evolved such extraordinary vocal abilities while many others did not.

The researchers say the differences among these species could help explain how vocal performance evolves and how animals balance the benefits of louder communication against the physical costs of producing powerful sounds.

For now, the white bellbird remains the standout example of how surprisingly loud a small bird can be.

Sources

• WBUR — “UMass biologists discover what may be the world’s loudest birds” — September 29, 2026.
• University of Massachusetts Amherst, Podos Lab — research on bird vocalizations and the white bellbird.
• Evolution — research published September 29, 2026.
• ABC News — “World’s loudest bird, the white bellbird, has a mating call above the human pain threshold” — October 23, 2019.