Many of us like a nice buzz in our heads from time to time, but not like this. When a peacock rattles his opulent train feathers at a female of the species, it makes a sound at a specific frequency – causing the crest on her head to vibrate energetically.

Peafowl ( Pavo cristatus ) are famous for the spectacular train of feathers worn by males. The feathers are brightly coloured and have iridescent “eyespots”. Males display them to attract females.

In 2016, physicist Suzanne Amador Kane …