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Sounds In the Ocean: Mammals

Listen to exemplar sound clips of marine mammal sounds, taken from passive acoustic recorders. We have compiled these sounds to provide examples of the variety and breadth of animal sounds.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

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Introduction

Underwater sounds provide information about the surrounding environment—or soundscape—such as what marine animals are present or what human activities are taking place. Many marine animals rely on sound for survival. They depend on unique adaptations to communicate, locate food, navigate underwater, and/or understand their environment. Sounds are particularly useful for communication because they can be used to convey a great deal of information quickly and over long distances. Changes in the rate, pitch, and/or structure of sounds communicate different messages. 

Passive Acoustic recorders can be towed behind a ship, mounted on mobile ocean-going robots, or placed at specific underwater sites and left out for days, months, or even years, capturing that location’s soundscape until the recorder is retrieved. Scientists in the Northeast's Passive Acoustic Research Group and their colleagues have compiled these sounds to provide examples of the variety and breadth of animal sounds.  

Note: You can click on any of the photos and spectrograms on this page to view and/or save the full image. Some sounds (in particular from mysticetes/baleen whales) are very low frequency, and you may need high-quality speakers to hear the recording.

How to Read a Spectrogram

A spectrogram is a visual way to display sound. The frequency of the sound is labeled on the vertical or y-axis. Frequency is most often measured in hertz (Hz) or kilohertz (kHz). Time is shown along the bottom of the graph (the x-axis). Time here is measured in minutes and seconds, in the format mm:ss. The loudness of a sound can be seen by the color scale of the sound in the spectrogram, with lighter colors implying louder sounds.

Mysticetes (Baleen Whales)

Baleen whales generally make low-frequency (0-5kHz) sounds. These sounds are usually made in the context of mating, competition for food or territory, contact calling, or general social communication.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whale species profile | Low-frequency sound; played at 8x normal speed. | Play blue whale audio

Image
Aerial view of a blue whale.
Image
Spectrogram of song produced by a blue whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin whale species profile | Low-frequency sound; played at 5x normal speed | Play fin whale audio

Image
Aerial view of three fin whales swimming side-by-side.
Image
Spectrogram of a pulse train produced by a fin whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale species profile | Play humpback whale audio

Image
Humpback whale breaching out of the water showing white pectoral fins with another humpback diving in front of it.
Image
Spectrogram of song with a variety of call types produced by a male humpback whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke whale species profile | Play minke whale audio

Image
Aerial view of a minke whale surfacing to breathe.
Image
Spectrogram of a pulse train produced by a minke whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

North Atlantic Right Whale 1

Eubalaena glacialis

North Atlantic right whale species profile | Play North Atlantic right whale audio 1

Image
Aerial view of a North Atlantic right whale mother and calf swimming side-by-side.
Image
Spectrogram of upcalls produced by a North Atlantic right whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Play North Atlantic right whale audio 2

Image
Aerial view of at least five North Atlantic right whales swimming in a Surface Active Group (SAG).
Image
Spectrogram of moans, upcalls, and gunshots produced by a North Atlantic right whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei whale species profile | Low-frequency sound; played at 2x normal speed. | Play sei whale audio

Image
Aerial view of three sei whales swimming, one of which has its mouth open actively filter feeding.

 

Image
Spectrogram of downsweeps in a doublet and singlet pattern produced by a sei whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Odontocetes (Toothed Whales)

Summary: Toothed whales generally make high-frequency sounds (5-150 kHz). These sounds are usually made in the context of mating, competition for food or territory, contact calling, or general social communication.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella frontalis

Atlantic spotted dolphin species profile | Play Atlantic spotted dolphin audio

Image
Two Atlantic spotted dolphins porpoising; the top halves of their bodies are darker gray with lighter gray speckling along the side and a light gray underbelly.

 

Image
Spectrogram of a variety of whistles produced by an Atlantic spotted dolphin with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus acutus 

Atlantic white-sided dolphin species profile | Play Atlantic white-sided dolphin audio

Image
Atlantic white-sided dolphin porpoising; the top half of its body is dark gray with light gray and white striping along the sides.

 

Image
Spectrogram of a variety of whistles produced by Atlantic white-sided dolphins with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Beluga Whale

Delphinapterus leucas

Beluga whale species profile | Play beluga whale audio

Image
Aerial view of a pod of nine white beluga whales swimming together among small pieces of ice.

 

Image
Spectrogram of a variety of whistles and calls produced by a beluga whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose dolphin species profile | Play bottlenose dolphin audio

Image
Bottlenose dolphin porpoising; its body is gray with a white underbelly.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks, buzzes, and whistles produced by a bottlenose dolphin with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Cuvier's beaked whale species profile | Play Cuvier's beaked whale audio

Image
Cuvier's beaked whale with its head protruding above the surface of the water. Its body is dark gray with a lighter gray head.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks produced by a Cuvier's beaked whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Harbor Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

Harbor porpoise species profile | High-frequency sound; played at 0.01x normal speed | Play harbor porpoise audio

Image
Harbor porpoise porpoising; its body is small and dark gray.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks produced by a harbor porpoise with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Humpback Dolphin

Sousa spp.

Humpback dolphin species profile | Play humpback dolphin audio

Image
Three gray humpback dolphins swimming together, one is porpoising with its head exposed above the surface of the water.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks and whistles produced by a humpback dolphin with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Killer whale species profile | Play killer whale audio

Image
Two killer whales swimming together, one showing its dorsal fin and the other surfacing to breathe showing its white eyespot.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks and whistles produced by a killer whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Northern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Northern bottlenose whale species profile | Play northern bottlenose whale audio

Image
Two gray Northern bottlenose whales swimming, one showing its dorsal fin and the other porpoising with its head exposed above the surface of the water.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks produced by a Northern bottlenose whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Pilot Whale

Globicephala spp.

Pilot whale species profile | Play pilot whale audio

Image
A pod of dark gray pilot whales swimming together.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks and whistles produced by pilot whales with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin species profile | Play Risso's dolphin audio

Image
Risso's dolphin porpoising with its head and dorsal fin exposed above the surface of the water. Its body is light gray with dark gray fins and covered in teeth rake marks from other dolphins.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks and buzzes produced by Risso's dolphins with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Short-Beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Short-beaked common dolphin species profile | Play short-beaked common dolphin audio

Image
Two short-beaked common dolphins porpoising out of the water. The top half of their bodies are dark gray with beige, light gray, and white striping down the sides and underbelly.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks and buzzes produced by short-beaked common dolphin with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whale species profile | Play sperm whale audio

Image
Aerial view of a gray sperm whale swimming at the surface of the water.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks produced by sperm whales with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Striped dolphin species profile | Play striped dolphin audio

Image
Two striped dolphins porpoising, one of which is entirely out of the water showing dark and light gray striped markings along its body.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks, buzzes, and whistles produced by striped dolphins with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

True’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon mirus

True's beaked whale species profile | High-frequency sound; played at 0.25x normal speed | Play True's beaked whale audio

Image
True's beaked whale swimming with its gray head and small dorsal fin exposed above the surface of the water.

 

Image
Spectrogram of clicks produced by a True's beaked whale with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

White-Beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris

White-beaked dolphin species profile | Play white-beaked dolphin audio

Image
Head view of a white-beaked dolphin just under the surface of the water showing its eye and pointed white beak.

 

Image
Spectrogram of whistles and clicks produced by a white-beaked dolphin with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Pinnipeds

Summary: Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses) generally make a variety of sounds in the general range of 0-20 kHz. These sounds are usually made in the context of mating, competition for food or territory, contact calling, or general social communication.

Bearded Seal

Erignathus barbatus

Bearded Seal Species Profile | Play bearded seal audio

Image
Bearded seal swimming with its head above the surface of the water, showing gray fur and thick white whiskers.

 

Image
Spectrogram of the call produced by a bearded seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Crabeater Seal

Lobodon carcinophaga

Crabeater Seal Information |Play crabeater seal audio

Image
Crabeater seal laying on ice, showing a sleek dark gray body.

 

Image
Spectrogram of two moans produced by a crabeater seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Gray Seal

Halichoerus grypus atlantica

Gray seal species profile | Play gray seal audio

Image
Gray seal swimming with its dark gray head above the surface of the water.

 

Image
Spectrogram of grunts produced by a gray seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Harbor seal species profile| Play harbor seal audio

Image
Harbor seal with light gray mottled fur sitting on land with ocean in the background.

 

Image
Spectrogram of roars produced by a harbor seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Harp Seal

Pagophilus groenlandicus

Harp seal species profile | Play harp seal audio

Image
Harp seal mother and pup laying on land and touching noses. The mother is gray with dark gray spots and the pup has white fur.

 

Image
Spectrogram of calls produced by a harp seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Leopard Seal

Hydrurga leptonyx

Play leopard seal audio

Image
Leopard seal with light gray fur and dark gray speckling laying on ice and showing its teeth.

 

Image
Spectrogram of trills and calls produced by a leopard seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Northern Fur Seal

Callorhinus ursinus

Northern fur seal species profile | Play northern fur seal audio

Image
Group of Northern fur seals on beach with dark brown fur and surf in the background.

 

Image
Spectrogram of four calls produced by a Northern fur seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Ross Seal

Ommatophoca rossii

Ross seal species information | Play ross seal audio

Image
Ross seal with a dark gray body laying on ice with its head tipped back producing a call.

 

Image
Spectrogram of pulses and calls produced by a ross seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus

Walrus species information | Play Walrus audio

Image
Walrus with long white tusks sitting in shallow water with other walruses swimming in the background.

 

Image
Spectrogram of knocks and bell calls produced by a walrus with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Weddell Seal

Leptonychotes weddellii

Weddell seal species information | Play Weddell seal audio

Image
Weddell seal with a light gray body and dark gray speckling laying on ice.

 

Image
Spectrogram of trill produced by a Weddell seal with time on the x-axis and frequency on the y-axis.

Citation Examples

How to Credit a File From This Page

Sound File Citation:

  1. (Government Agency)
  2. (Group/Organization)
  3. (Collection/Publication Date)
  4. (Title of Sound File)
  5. (Website URL)

Example:

NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]. Passive Acoustics Group. 2021.  Stfr_Multisound_NOAA_PAGroup_01.  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/science-data/sounds-ocean

Image/Spectrogram Citation:

  1. (Government Agency)
  2. (Group/Organization)
  3. (Lower Levels of Credit, if known)
  4. (Collection/Publication Date)
  5. (Title of Sound File)
  6. (Website URL)

Example:

NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]. Passive Acoustics Group. 2021. Dele_NOAA_04. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/science-data/sounds-ocean

More Information

More Information

Last updated by Northeast Fisheries Science Center on 06/23/2023

Acoustics