birding-aus

Loudest bird?

To: Bob Gosford <>
Subject: Loudest bird?
From: Andrew Taylor <>
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2015 08:19:21 +1100
On Sun, Mar 08, 2015 at 08:17:24PM +0930, Bob Gosford wrote:
> Steve - @Doctor_Dave Watson over at Twitter says "noisy scrub birds also
> ear-splitting at close range--a mate reckons they're so loud because
> they're deaf because they're so loud!" ... which opens another question -
> why don't loud birds go deaf?

An involuntary contraction of muscles in their ear reduces their
sensitivity when they call - something similar happens in mammal ears
including humans.  Bird inner ears are also more resistant to damage
from loud noises than mammals and regenerate if damaged.

Andrew

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