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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere is no scientifically defensible single ranking of the loudest animals across air and water. In the cited comparison, sperm whale clicks have the highest reported source level, at up to 239 dB underwater; those figures cannot be compared directly with airborne measurements.
The figures below are documented maximum source levels, not a precise cross-medium leaderboard. The comparative study notes that individual values are typically meaningful only to roughly 2–3 dB.
At a glance: reported sound levels
| Animal | Reported maximum source level | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Sperm whale | 239 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Bottlenose dolphin | 222 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Orca | 220 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| False killer whale | 219 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Fin whale | 203 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Blue whale | 199 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Black drum | 183 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| Pistol shrimp | About 183 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m | Underwater |
| White bellbird | 125 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m | Air |
| Big brown bat | 121 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m | Air |
| African elephant | About 120 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m | Air |
Unless otherwise noted, the animal sound-level figures in this article come from the 2021 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution comparative study. Its figures are maximum reported source levels, generally standardized to one metre and measured along the sound source’s acoustic axis.
What the decibel figures mean
Airborne sound levels use a reference pressure of 20 µPa; underwater measurements use 1 µPa. That difference alone makes the numerical values look about 26 dB higher underwater before the different physical properties of water and air are considered.
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Researchers also report peak, peak-to-peak and RMS measurements. Direction matters too: a narrow echolocation beam can be extraordinarily intense on its acoustic axis but much quieter to the side. For these reasons, the numbers below are best treated as documented examples rather than a definitive cross-medium leaderboard.
1. Sperm whale — up to 239 dB underwater
The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) produces powerful, highly directional echolocation clicks. Reported source levels reach approximately 239 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m; Møhl and colleagues’ field study measured clicks up to 236 dB re 1 µPa RMS.
These clicks are biosonar, not ordinary calls. A sperm whale uses them to detect and pursue prey in the dark ocean, with the sound concentrated into a narrow beam. The figure is therefore an underwater source-level measurement—not an air-equivalent loudness rating.
2. Bottlenose dolphin — up to 222 dB underwater
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) can produce echolocation clicks with source levels of approximately 222 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m.
The clicks are short, directional pulses used to investigate objects and locate prey. Because they are ultrasonic and aimed through the water, their measured intensity does not describe how a person would perceive the sound from a boat or shoreline.
3. Orca — up to 220 dB underwater
Killer whales, or orcas (Orcinus orca), have reported maximum source levels of around 220 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m for underwater pulsed sounds.
Orcas use a varied acoustic system that includes calls, whistles and pulsed signals. The value listed here refers to one of their high-output underwater signals, not to every sound an orca makes. As with other toothed whales, the strongest measurement is directional.
4. False killer whale — up to 219 dB underwater
The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) has reported echolocation source levels of approximately 219 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m.
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Its clicks are produced for biosonar and are strongest along the animal’s acoustic axis. A hydrophone positioned away from that axis can record a substantially lower level, which is one reason readings from different studies should not be treated as exact universal limits.
5. Fin whale — up to 203 dB underwater
The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the loudest baleen whale in the cited standardized comparison, with calls reaching approximately 203 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m.
Its sound is very different from a sperm whale’s click. Fin whales produce powerful, low-frequency vocalizations that can travel through the ocean, whereas toothed whales generally produce brief, directional echolocation pulses.
6. Blue whale — up to 199 dB underwater
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) calls have a reported source level of approximately 199 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m. Their low-frequency songs are among the most famous sounds in the natural world.
That does not make the blue whale the loudest animal overall by measured source level. In the standardized underwater comparison, sperm whale clicks reach a higher reported value. Blue whale calls are especially notable for their low frequency and long-range transmission, which is a different attribute from maximum measured pressure.
7. Black drum — up to 183 dB underwater
The black drum (Pogonias cromis) is the loudest teleost fish in the cited comparison, reaching approximately 183 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m.
Black drum produce their characteristic sounds in connection with reproductive behavior. A field study by Locascio and Mann describes how underwater recordings can help researchers study when and where spawning activity occurs.
8. Pistol shrimp — about 183 dB peak
Snapping shrimp, also called pistol shrimp, generate a sharp snap by rapidly closing a specialized claw. The movement creates a jet and a cavitation bubble; when that bubble collapses, it produces the characteristic shock wave.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe species listed in the comparative study, Synalpheus parneomeris, reaches approximately 183 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m. Other studies have reported snapping-shrimp sounds around 183–189 dB peak-to-peak re 1 µPa at 1 m, depending on species and measurement method. See the 2023 Frontiers in Marine Science review and the National Academies summary.
Popular accounts sometimes quote a single figure of 210 dB, but that number should not be presented as a universal value. Distance, species, recording position and the chosen measurement convention all affect the result.
9. White bellbird — up to 125 dB in air
The male white bellbird (Procnias albus) has the highest recorded bird source level in the cited research: approximately 125 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m.
This is a close-range mating call directed at females. It is not necessarily designed to travel the farthest distance, and its high level may carry a cost for a female positioned nearby. The 2019 measurement displaced the screaming piha’s earlier reputation as the loudest bird; Nature’s research highlight reported on the finding.
10. Big brown bat — up to 121 dB in air
Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) produce echolocation calls reaching approximately 121 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m.
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The call is a highly directional ultrasonic biosonar signal. It helps the bat navigate and detect insects, but it is not heard by humans in the same way as a loud, low-frequency animal call. A sound can have a high measured source level while remaining outside human hearing.
11. African elephant — about 120 dB in air
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) has a reported maximum source level of approximately 120 dB peak re 20 µPa at 1 m.
Elephant rumbles contain very low-frequency components that can travel long distances through the environment. That makes elephants a useful reminder that maximum loudness and communication range are not interchangeable. A quieter sound at the source may travel effectively if its frequency and surroundings suit long-distance transmission.
Why the blue whale is not automatically number one
The blue whale is often described as the loudest animal on Earth because its calls are exceptionally powerful and can travel across ocean basins. But “loudest” depends on what is measured. The highest reported source level in the cited standardized underwater comparison belongs to the sperm whale’s echolocation clicks.
The comparison is also not a simple contest between a whale click, a fish call, a shrimp snap and an elephant rumble. They differ in medium, frequency, duration, directionality, reference pressure and measurement method. Even within comparable measurements, individual values are typically meaningful only to roughly 2–3 dB, according to the comparative study.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does a 239 dB underwater sound equal 239 dB in air?
No. Underwater levels are referenced to 1 µPa, while airborne levels are referenced to 20 µPa. Water also transmits sound differently from air because it is denser and has different acoustic impedance. A number copied from an underwater study cannot be treated as though it were an equivalent air measurement.
Human loudness perception adds another complication. Hearing depends on frequency, duration and hearing sensitivity. Some of the animals on this list produce infrasound or ultrasound, so humans may not hear the sound at all—or may hear only part of it.
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Could these sounds harm animals?
A high source level does not automatically mean every nearby animal experiences the same level. Sound weakens with distance and may be blocked, reflected or redirected. Directional signals can be intense in one narrow path and much weaker elsewhere.
Nevertheless, powerful underwater sound can matter to marine animals, particularly when it comes from human activity, occurs repeatedly or is experienced at close range. The figures in this list describe the animals’ recorded output; they are not a measure of guaranteed injury or discomfort to another animal.
FAQ
What is the loudest animal on Earth?
There is no fully defensible single winner across air and water. In the cited standardized underwater comparison, the sperm whale has the highest reported source level, reaching up to 239 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m. That figure cannot be directly compared with airborne decibel measurements.
Is the blue whale louder than the sperm whale?
Not by the maximum reported source levels in the cited comparison. Blue whale calls reach about 199 dB underwater, while sperm whale echolocation clicks reach up to 239 dB under the underwater reference system. Blue whale calls are famous for their low frequency and long range, which is different from maximum source level.
How loud is a pistol shrimp?
Published values vary. The listed species reaches about 183 dB peak re 1 µPa at 1 m, while other studies report snapping-shrimp snaps around 183–189 dB peak-to-peak. The result depends on species, distance, direction and measurement convention.
Are animal decibels the same as human loudness?
No. Decibels in these studies describe measured sound pressure or source level, not necessarily how loud a human would perceive the sound. Frequency, duration and hearing range matter, and some animal sounds are ultrasonic or infrasonic.
The Bottom Line
The sperm whale has the highest reported source level in this comparison, but the list should not be read as a precise all-animal ranking. Underwater and airborne decibels use different reference pressures, and sound level, human loudness, distance and communication range are separate concepts.
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