Sheep hearing range

Sheep hear frequencies from about 125 Hz to 42,500 Hz – a span of 8.4 octaves. Compared with humans (about 20 Hz–20 kHz), sheep hear higher – up to 42 kHz, well into ultrasound.

125 HzLowest frequency

42,500 HzHighest frequency

8.4Octaves

2.1×Upper limit vs. humans

How it compares

Greater wax moths Bottlenose dolphins Beluga whales Bats Mice Rats Cats Opossums Gerbils Guinea pigs Dogs Hedgehogs Ferrets Sheep Rabbits Pigs Raccoons Goats Cows Horses Chinchillas Humans Elephants Owls Budgerigars (parakeets)Canaries Cockatiels Tree frogs Catfish Bullfrogs Goldfish Chickens Tuna

10 Hz1001 kHz10 kHz100 kHz

Shaded band: typical human range (20 Hz–20 kHz). Log scale.

Tones sheep can hear

Tones sheep cannot hear

Frequently asked questions

What frequencies can sheep hear?

About 125 Hz to 42,500 Hz.

Can sheep hear ultrasound?

Yes – their upper limit is above 20 kHz.

Can sheep hear infrasound?

No – their lower limit is above 20 Hz.

Sources & credits

Wikipedia – Hearing range (compiled from Fay 1988; Heffner & Heffner) · Approximate hearing ranges from behavioural audiograms (largely Fay 1988 and Heffner & Heffner), usually measured at 60 dB SPL. Individual animals, ages and studies differ.