Story perspectives

Horses Unveil Unique Whinny Technique: Biphonation Discovered

2/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study in Current Biology shows horses produce their whinny by combining a low-frequency vocal fold tone with a high-frequency laryngeal whistle, a mechanism called biphonation.
Researchers conducted experiments on live horses and excised larynges to confirm the high-frequency component is produced in the larynx and accompanies the low-frequency tone.
Horses are the first large mammals identified to use this vocal technique; donkeys and zebras lack the high-frequency component.

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Story summary

A study in Current Biology shows horses produce their whinny by combining a low-frequency vocal fold tone with a high-frequency laryngeal whistle, a mechanism called biphonation.
Researchers conducted experiments on live horses and excised larynges to confirm the high-frequency component is produced in the larynx and accompanies the low-frequency tone.
Horses are the first large mammals identified to use this vocal technique; donkeys and zebras lack the high-frequency component.