The astonishing acoustics of the white bellbird
The white bellbird, native to the Amazon rain forest, has the loudest recorded call of any bird: 125 decibels, or roughly as loud as a rock concert. It uses this call not for long-distance communication or to intimidate predators but to woo potential mates. This pigeon-sized bird is no Frank Sinatra, though. Its hair-raising song sounds more like an emergency alarm than a lover’s warble. (Trust us: Look it up.)
White bellbird
Procnias albus
RANGE Northeast South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, and the Guianas
SIZE About 11" long
DIET Fruit
© Anselmo d'Affonseca/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML204137651)
1. MOUTH
Adapted to eat fruit, the bird’s very wide mouth opens broadly when it sings.
2. WATTLE
A dark-gray, fleshy spike with small, white feathers hangs from the male’s forehead.
3. ABDOMINALS AND RIBS
Unusually strong core muscles may be the key to the bird’s unique vocal prowess.
4. PLUMAGE
Adult males are covered with bright-white feathers, while the females sport olive-green and yellow plumage.
Noise level chart (in decibels)
Can you hear me now?
Researchers have found that male white bellbirds sing loudest around females, likely in attempts to attract a partner. When a female perches nearby, the male begins its song, then pivots to face her head-on and belts his most ear-splitting note. Females may favor the loudest males.
© Lars Petersson/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML206032151)
Unlike males, females don’t have wattles or a mating call. In fact, they barely make any noise at all.
© Kevin Schafer/WWF-Canon
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