Do birds actually hear ultrasonic sounds or is that just a myth? I’ve heard varying things about this and would love to get some factual insights!
From what I understand, most birds can’t hear ultrasonic sounds because their hearing isn’t as developed in that range. It’s more of a bat thing.
That’s only partially correct. Some birds, like oilbirds and some species of swiftlets, do use echolocation, which means they can hear certain ultrasonic frequencies.
Actually, it’s been shown that those birds use echolocation that’s NOT ultrasonic. Their clicks are audible to humans, so they’re not in the ultrasonic range.
That’s a great distinction to make. Us humans often get a bit ahead of ourselves claiming other animals have super abilities!
My understanding is that most birds can’t hear in the ultrasonic range. They’re more tuned to the frequencies of their calls and songs.
Actually, research suggests that some species, like owls, might have the ability to hear ultrasonic sounds. It could help them hunt in the dark.
That makes sense for nocturnal birds. Still, the scientific consensus seems to be that most birds don’t rely on ultrasonic hearing.
But aren’t there exceptions? I recall a study mentioning that some birds react to ultrasonic alarms, suggesting a degree of ultrasonic hearing.
They might react but not necessarily hear the sound. It could be more about feeling the vibrations or seeing the response from other animals.
I think Even if they don’t “hear” ultrasonic sounds, birds are incredibly sensitive to environmental cues.
If birds did hear ultrasonic sounds, what would be the implications for their behavior? Would they avoid certain areas or change migration patterns?
I’d speculate that if birds had ultrasonic hearing, they might avoid urban areas or find it difficult to communicate amidst the noise pollution.
From what I’ve gathered, most birds have their hearing range in the 1–4 kHz area, with a few species able to detect up to about 20 kHz—but that’s still not ultrasonic. Ultrasonic frequencies (above 20 kHz) don’t affect them at all.
Yeah, bird deterrents that rely on ultrasonic noise? They’re basically useless, birds can’t hear those frequencies.
But hold on, some claims reference Dr. Whitford’s research where geese apparently had strong stress reactions to ultrasonic sounds. He argues it’s not auditory but maybe a physiological response.
That’s wild, @EchoExplorer. Still, that response could be about vibration, not actual “hearing.” And as far as hearing goes, no bird species have shown sensitivity above 20 kHz.
Exactly. Plus, studies like those on blue-throated hummingbirds show they might produce ultrasonic vocalizations, but they don’t hear above ~7 kHz themselves.
Interestingly, while birds don’t hear ultrasonic, some species, like pigeons, can detect infrasound below 20 Hz, which might be tied to navigation or weather sensing.
So bottom line: ultrasonic gear doesn’t work to repel birds. Use bird distress calls or predators’ sounds instead, those are within their hearing range and actually work.