Horses' Unique Whinny Explained by Scientists

Researchers discover horses' signature sound involves a whistling component in their voice box.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A new study has revealed the secret behind horses' distinctive whinny or neigh. Researchers used cameras and scans to discover that the high-pitched part of a horse's call is produced by a whistling mechanism in the animal's voice box, which vibrates in combination with the lower-pitched sounds typical of larger animals. This two-toned vocalization may allow horses to convey more complex emotions and social cues.

Why it matters

Understanding the unique vocal abilities of horses provides insight into animal communication and evolution. The finding that horses are the only known large mammals capable of whistling through their voice boxes while vocalizing challenges assumptions about the relationship between body size and vocal range. It also suggests horses may have developed this specialized skill to enhance their social and expressive capabilities.

The details

Researchers used cameras and scans to observe what happens inside horses' vocal systems when they whinny and make other sounds. They found the high-pitched component of the whinny is produced by air vibrating tissues in the voice box while an area above contracts, creating a whistling effect. This is different from human whistling, which is done with the mouth. Only a few small rodents are known to whistle in a similar way, making horses the first large mammals identified with this vocal ability.

  • The new study was published on February 23, 2026 in the journal Current Biology.

The players

Elodie Mandel-Briefer

A researcher at the University of Copenhagen who was the lead author of the study on horses' unique whinny.

Jenifer Nadeau

A researcher at the University of Connecticut who studies horses but was not involved in this particular study.

Alisa Herbst

A researcher at Rutgers University's Equine Science Center who commented on the significance of the study's findings.

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What they’re saying

“I'd never imagined that there was a whistling component. It's really interesting, and I can hear that now.”

— Jenifer Nadeau, Researcher, University of Connecticut (wbal.com)

“Knowing that a 'whinny' is not just a 'whinny' but that it is actually composed of two different fundamental frequencies that are created by two different mechanisms is exciting.”

— Alisa Herbst, Researcher, Rutgers University Equine Science Center (wbal.com)

What’s next

Researchers plan to further investigate how horses' unique whistling vocalization evolved and what adaptive advantages it may provide the animals in terms of communication and social interaction.

The takeaway

The discovery that horses can whistle through their voice boxes while vocalizing challenges assumptions about the relationship between body size and vocal range in animals. It also suggests horses have developed specialized vocal abilities that may allow them to convey a more complex range of emotions and social cues.