Work

Digest: Morphology shapes vocal amplitude in birds, while the role of ecology remains unclear

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Why are some birds louder than others? Menezes and Podos (2026) examined vocal amplitude across 123 bird species, revealing substantial variation in how loudly different bird species communicate. Vocal amplitude was primarily associated with body size and beak gape width, whereas ecological factors showed no significant relationships. Despite the potential role of loud calls in attracting mates, the analyses found no clear relationship between vocal amplitude and polygamy.

Source: Evolution

DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpag200

Author: Jente Ottenburghs

Institution: Wageningen University & Research

Language: English

Topic: Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W7225335098

FWCI:

Cites: 10

Cited by:

Related to: 10