Cetacean sound library

Cetaceans live in a world where sight carries only a short distance: a few metres in coastal waters, a few tens of metres in the clearest water. Sound has therefore become their dominant sense. Each species has developed its own acoustic repertoire, clicks, whistles, songs and codas, which serves hunting, communication, social cohesion and orientation all at once.

This sound library brings together 30 authentic recordings covering 23 species representative of the main cetacean families, each with a scientific explanation. All the recordings presented here are rights-free (NOAA, NPS, Wikimedia Commons CC0). Open it on a smartphone or tablet during a survey trip, and practise recognising species by ear as well as by eye.

How to listen to cetaceans

Cetacean sounds are captured with hydrophones, waterproof microphones designed to work underwater. The recordings come from scientific surveys, passive listening stations (PAM, Passive Acoustic Monitoring) or public archives (NOAA, NPS, Discovery of Sound in the Sea).

Frequency range: cetaceans emit across a very wide range, from subsonic (blue whale songs, < 20 Hz) to ultrasonic (porpoise clicks, > 100 kHz).
Human hearing: we hear only the 20 Hz to 20 kHz portion. The highest-pitched echolocation sounds are therefore partly or entirely inaudible to the unaided ear.
Speeding up / slowing down: some recordings (of large rorquals or porpoises in particular) are sped up (x2, x5, x10) or slowed down (x0.01) to become audible to the human ear.
Formats: the recordings offered here are in MP3, Ogg Vorbis or WAV format, playable directly in most modern browsers.

The mysticetes: the baleen whales

Mysticetes emit mainly low and very low frequency sounds, which travel over considerable distances. Several species have highly identifiable “vocal signatures”, and some populations even show dialects specific to their ocean basin.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Males produce the most complex vocalisations in the animal kingdom: songs structured into themes, phrases and motifs, which can last more than 30 minutes. All the males of a given region sing the same song at any one time, but the repertoire changes from year to year, a unique cultural phenomenon.

Complete humpback whale song. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Apart from songs, humpback whales produce a whole range of social vocalisations, nicknamed “moos” by researchers.

“Moo” vocalisations of an Alaskan humpback whale, Glacier Bay 2001. Source: National Park Service, public domain.

The following recording also captures the characteristic blows (wheeze blows) of the animal at the surface.

Blows and vocalisations of an Alaskan humpback whale, Glacier Bay 2001. Source: National Park Service, public domain.

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

The blue whale emits sounds at very low frequencies (often < 20 Hz), which travel over several thousand kilometres. One remarkable feature: its populations show dialects specific to each ocean basin. Listen and compare:

Song of a Western Pacific blue whale. Source: NOAA, public domain.

Song of a Northeast Pacific blue whale. Source: NOAA, public domain.

Song of a South Pacific blue whale. Source: NOAA, public domain.

Blue whale songs are among the most intense biological sounds ever recorded (up to 188 dB at the source).

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

The second largest animal on the planet and the mysticete most regularly sighted in the Mediterranean, the fin whale emits brief sounds at around 20 Hz.

Vocalisations of a fin whale from the Atlantic, sped up x10. Source: NOAA, public domain.

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

The sei whale (also called Rudolphi’s rorqual) is one of the fastest of all cetaceans. Its descending vocalisations (downsweeps) distinguish it acoustically from the other rorquals.

Descending vocalisation (downsweep) of a sei whale, sped up x2. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

The common minke whale is the smallest of the rorquals, but remains a large cetacean (8-9 m). It emits characteristic series of pulses.

Pulse trains of a common minke whale. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

One of the most threatened species in the world, with fewer than 400 individuals remaining. Its signature vocalisation is the upcall: a short sound that rises rapidly in frequency, used for long-distance communication.

“Upcall” of a North Atlantic right whale. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The enigmatic 52 Hz whale

First detected in 1989 by the oceanographer William Watkins (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), this “52 hertz whale” sings at an atypical frequency, where blue whales emit at 10-39 Hz and fin whales at around 20 Hz. Tracked for more than two decades, it has never been observed visually.

Recording of the “52 Hz whale”. Nicknamed “the loneliest in the world”. Source: NOAA / William Watkins (WHOI), public domain.

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

The sperm whale produces the most powerful biological sounds ever measured: up to 230 decibels. Its acoustic repertoire is made up of several types of click, each with its own function.

Usual clicks (echolocation / hunting)

Usual echolocation clicks of a sperm whale. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Slow clicks (solitary males)

Slow clicks are emitted mainly by solitary adult males at high latitudes. Their exact function remains debated: a long-distance presence signal, possibly with a reproductive purpose.

Slow clicks of a male sperm whale. Source: NOAA, public domain.

Codas (social communication)

At the surface, sperm whales exchange rhythmic sequences of clicks known as codas. Each clan develops its own dialect, transmitted culturally. The CETI project is working to model this structure.

Codas and rapid clicks from a group of sperm whales. Source: NOAA, public domain.

The ziphiids: the beaked whales

Ziphiids are among the most elusive and least studied cetaceans. Their very high frequency echolocation allows them to hunt at great depth. These recordings are rare and valuable.

Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

The outright diving champion among marine mammals (documented record of more than 2,990 m, a 222 min breath-hold, 2020 record), Cuvier’s beaked whale is regularly sighted offshore of the French Mediterranean coast.

Echolocation clicks of a Cuvier’s beaked whale, played at 0.3x with a 12 kHz high-pass filter. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)

The northern bottlenose whale is the largest ziphiid in the North Atlantic. Its high-frequency echolocation clicks allow it to hunt cephalopods at depths of more than 1,500 m.

Amplified clicks of a northern bottlenose whale. Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada / TeamWhale, via NOAA, public domain.

True’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus)

One of the most elusive beaked whales in the world, rarely observed alive. Its acoustic recordings are exceptional and are one of the main sources of information on this mysterious species.

Multiple sounds from a True’s beaked whale, played at 0.25x. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The monodontids: the beluga

The beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) is nicknamed the “sea canary” because of the richness and variety of its vocalisations. It combines whistles, chirps, creaks, clangs and grunts in extremely plastic sequences.

Varied vocalisations of a beluga. Source: NOAA, public domain.

Cases of imitation of human speech have been observed in captivity, in particular in the individual Noc (Vancouver), able to reproduce sequences resembling human vowels.

The delphinids: the dolphin family

Delphinids use frequency-modulated whistles to communicate with one another. Each individual develops its own “signature whistle”, the acoustic equivalent of a first name. To these are added echolocation clicks and rapid pulse sequences (burst-pulses) used in agonistic interactions.

The killer whale (Orcinus orca), the largest of the dolphins

The killer whale has an exceptionally structured acoustic system. Each pod (family group) emits a repertoire of stereotyped calls, inherited matrilineally.

Calls and echolocation of resident killer whales from southern Alaska, near Glacier Bay. Source: National Park Service, public domain.

Broadband vocalisations of resident killer whales: clicks, whistles and pulsed calls. Source: National Park Service, public domain.

The pilot whale (Globicephala)

The second largest of the dolphins after the killer whale, the pilot whale lives in very tight-knit social groups. Its vocalisations combine clicks, whistles and pulsed calls.

Multiple sounds from a pilot whale. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The common bottlenose dolphin is the best studied and most recognisable cetacean species. Its elaborate cognition and keen sense of acoustic communication have made it a study model for bioacoustics.

Multiple sounds from a common bottlenose dolphin: whistles, clicks and burst-pulses. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

The most abundant species in the north-western Mediterranean, the striped dolphin forms groups that can reach several hundred individuals. Its vocal repertoire is rich and varied.

Multiple sounds from a striped dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

The short-beaked common dolphin is the most abundant delphinid in the world. It is regularly encountered in the Bay of Biscay and the French Atlantic.

Whistles of a short-beaked common dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus)

A specialist in deep-sea cephalopods, Risso’s dolphin has a bulbous melon with no rostrum and numerous characteristic scars. See our dedicated species page.

Echolocation clicks of a Risso’s dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)

The Atlantic spotted dolphin frequents the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Its spotted skin patterns become more pronounced with age.

Multiple sounds from an Atlantic spotted dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Leucopleurus acutus)

A robust species of the temperate and cold North Atlantic, the Atlantic white-sided dolphin forms groups that can reach several hundred individuals. It is regularly sighted offshore of the British Isles and Iceland.

Whistles of an Atlantic white-sided dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

The white-beaked dolphin is a northern species sometimes sighted in the North Sea, off the British and Scandinavian coasts. Stockier than its relatives, it is one of the largest members of the genus Lagenorhynchus.

Multiple sounds from a white-beaked dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

A coastal species of the Indo-Pacific, the humpback dolphin is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Its distinctive dorsal hump and sometimes pinkish coloration make it immediately recognisable.

Echolocation clicks of a humpback dolphin. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The phocoenids: the harbour porpoise

Unlike the delphinids, the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) does not produce whistles. Its communication rests almost exclusively on very high frequency clicks (~130 kHz), entirely inaudible to the human ear without extreme slowing.

High-frequency clicks of a harbour porpoise, slowed to 0.01x and amplified to make them audible. Source: NOAA Passive Acoustic Group, public domain.

The harbour porpoise is the most frequent cetacean species in the English Channel and the North Sea. Its unobtrusiveness and small size (1.4-1.9 m) make it a cetacean that is difficult to observe at sea.

Noise pollution: an increasingly noisy ocean

The rise in shipping traffic, military sonar, seismic surveys and industrial aquaculture has profoundly altered the acoustic landscape of the oceans. For animals whose survival depends on sound, these disturbances can cause:

A reduction in the acoustic area available for communication, sometimes divided by ten or by a hundred.
Population displacements and avoidance of traditional feeding areas.
Mass strandings, in particular among ziphiids exposed to military sonar.
Disruption of breeding, in particular among mysticetes whose songs struggle to be heard.
A measurable fall in the frequency of blue whale songs over recent decades.

👉 To go further: Echolocation in cetaceans.

Summary: 30 recordings, 23 species

Species	Scientific name	Type	Source
MYSTICETES
Humpback whale	Megaptera novaeangliae	Complete song	Wikimedia CC0
Humpback whale	Megaptera novaeangliae	“Moo” vocalisations	NPS
Humpback whale	Megaptera novaeangliae	Blows and vocalisations	NPS
Blue whale	Balaenoptera musculus	Western Pacific song	NOAA
Blue whale	Balaenoptera musculus	Northeast Pacific song	NOAA
Blue whale	Balaenoptera musculus	South Pacific song	NOAA
Fin whale	Balaenoptera physalus	Vocalisations (x10)	NOAA
Sei whale	Balaenoptera borealis	Downsweep (x2)	NOAA
Common minke whale	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	Pulse trains	NOAA
Right whale	Eubalaena glacialis	Upcall	NOAA
“52 Hz whale”	Unidentified species	Atypical song	NOAA/WHOI
ODONTOCETES
Sperm whale	Physeter macrocephalus	Usual clicks	Wikimedia CC0
Sperm whale	Physeter macrocephalus	Slow clicks	NOAA
Sperm whale	Physeter macrocephalus	Codas	NOAA
Cuvier’s beaked whale	Ziphius cavirostris	Clicks (0.3x)	NOAA
Northern bottlenose whale	Hyperoodon ampullatus	Amplified clicks	NOAA/DFO
True’s beaked whale	Mesoplodon mirus	Multiple sounds (0.25x)	NOAA
Beluga	Delphinapterus leucas	Varied vocalisations	NOAA
Killer whale	Orcinus orca	Alaska resident calls	NPS
Killer whale	Orcinus orca	Broadband vocalisations	NPS
Pilot whale	Globicephala	Multiple sounds	NOAA
Common bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops truncatus	Multiple sounds	NOAA
Striped dolphin	Stenella coeruleoalba	Multiple sounds	NOAA
Common dolphin	Delphinus delphis	Whistles	NOAA
Risso’s dolphin	Grampus griseus	Clicks	NOAA
Atlantic spotted dolphin	Stenella frontalis	Multiple sounds	NOAA
Atlantic white-sided dolphin	Leucopleurus acutus	Whistles	NOAA
White-beaked dolphin	Lagenorhynchus albirostris	Multiple sounds	NOAA
Humpback dolphin	Sousa chinensis	Clicks	NOAA
Harbour porpoise	Phocoena phocoena	Clicks (0.01x)	NOAA

Credits and sources

All the recordings presented here are rights-free:

NOAA Fisheries Passive Acoustic Group (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US public domain), the main source, providing the great majority of the recordings via the marine mammal sound library
National Park Service (US public domain), “moo” vocalisations and blows of Alaskan humpback whales, calls and broadband vocalisations of Glacier Bay killer whales
NOAA / William Watkins (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), “52 Hz whale”
Wikimedia Commons (CC0 licence, public domain), humpback whale songs and usual sperm whale clicks