Example Sounds

Animal

Fish

Atlantic midshipman (Florida Keys)

Continuous humming sounds, believed to be produced by male Atlantic midshipman as part of courtship rituals, are heard through the night in the season of spring in Florida Keys sanctuary. These sounds function to attract prospective females to male burrows for spawning.

Black grouper (Florida Keys)

Male black grouper emit low frequency rumbling sounds during courtship displays directed towards prospective females while in seasonal spawning aggregations in Florida Keys sanctuary. The monitoring of these sounds can help researchers understand where and when the species is reproducing.

Bocaccio (Channel Islands)

Bocaccio produce low frequency sounds such as this call recorded on the north side of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary in 2018.

Bocaccio (Monterey Bay)

Bocaccio produce low frequency sounds such as these two consecutive calls recorded in 2020 on the edge of Monterey Canyon in Monterey Bay sanctuary.

Cod (Stellwagen Bank)

Grunting sounds produced by Atlantic cod were recorded east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary during winter months and were associated with reproductive activity.

Damselfish (Papahānaumokuākea)

Damselfish produce sounds, such as chirps, during activities related to competition and reproduction. These sounds from a damselfish were recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Fish chorus (Florida Keys)

Various species of fish produce repeated sounds during reproductive periods that can result in loud choruses of underwater sound, such as this recording of fish popping sounds recorded south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Fish chorus (Gray’s Reef)

Various species of fish produce repeated sounds during reproductive periods that can result in loud choruses of underwater sound, such as this example recorded off Georgia in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Fish chorus (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Fish chorusing recorded off the northwest coast of Hawaiʻi island in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Haddock (Stellwagen Bank)

Haddock produce knocking sounds during reproductive seasons, such as in this recording from Stellwagen Bank sanctuary.

Plainfin midshipman (Channel Islands)

Male plainfin midshipman produce a loud humming sound to attract females and/or guard their nests. These hums can last hours. This clip is from the north side of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary, recorded in 2019.

Plainfin midshipman (Monterey Bay)

Male plainfin midshipman produce a loud humming sound to attract females and/or guard their nests. These hums can last hours. This clip is from Point Pinos in Monterey Bay sanctuary, recorded in 2020.

Red grouper (Florida Keys)

Red grouper make low frequency sounds that are related to spawning activity during certain times of year.

Toadfish (Gray’s Reef)

Repetitive sounds produced by toadfish as part of courtship rituals were heard throughout the spring season in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Invertebrates

Snapping shrimp (Channel Islands)

Snapping shrimp sounds, akin to the sound of popcorn popping, are produced with highest energy levels ~3 to ~13 kiloHertz. Sound is created by the rapid closure of the animal’s snapper claws and is familiar ambient noise to Channel Islands sanctuary snorkelers, divers, and swimmers. This recording of snapping shrimp is from 2018 on the north side of Santa Rosa Island.

Snapping shrimp (Florida Keys)

The sounds made by snapping shrimp can be heard in this recording from south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary. These sounds are similar to the sound of popcorn popping and are very familiar to anyone who has gone snorkling or SCUBA diving in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Snapping shrimp (Gray’s Reef)

The sounds made by snapping shrimp can be heard in this recording off Georgia at Gray’s Reef sanctuary. These sounds are similar to the sound of popcorn popping and are very familiar to anyone who has gone SCUBA diving in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Snapping shrimp (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Snapping shrimp are a dominant source of ambient sound in Hawaiian waters. Their loud snaps can sound like static or the sound of frying food. These snapping shrimp sounds were recorded in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary off the northwest coast of Hawaiʻi island.

Snapping shrimp (Monterey Bay)

Snapping shrimp sounds, akin to the sound of popcorn popping, are produced with highest energy levels ~3 to ~13 kiloHertz by the rapid closure of the animal’s snapper claws and are familiar to snorkelers, divers, and swimmers in Monterey Bay sanctuary. This recording of snapping shrimp is from 2020 on the edge of Monterey Canyon.

Snapping shrimp (Papahānaumokuākea)

Snapping shrimp are a dominant source of ambient sound in Hawaiian waters. Their loud snaps can sound like static or the sound of frying food. These snapping shrimp sounds were recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Marine mammals

Blue whales (Channel Islands)

Blue whale calls recorded in Channel Islands sanctuary are close to the lower limits of human hearing. This one was recorded east of Anacapa Island in 2019.

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Blue whales (Monterey Bay)

Blue whale calls are close to the lower limits of human hearing. This one was recorded in Monterey Canyon in 2018 inside Monterey Bay sanctuary.

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Blue whales (Olympic Coast)

Blue whale calls are close to the lower limits of human hearing. This one was recorded from the international shipping lanes on the northern border of Olympic Coast sanctuary in 2019.

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Blue whales (Stellwagen Bank)

Low frequency sounds from a blue whale were recorded east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in October 2018.

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Dolphins (Channel Islands)

These dolphin whistles, varying in frequency from roughly 3 to 24 kiloHertz, were recorded at Santa Barbara Island in 2019.

Dolphins (Florida Keys)

The whistles, clicks, and squeals produced by dolphins visiting coral reefs can be heard underwater, such as the sounds heard in this recording from south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Dolphins (Gray’s Reef)

The whistles, clicks, and squeals produced by dolphins can be heard underwater, such as the sounds heard in this recording off Georgia in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Dolphins (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Dolphins communicate and hunt for food using sounds such as whistles, echolocation clicks, and burst pulses (rapid series of broadband clicks). These whistles and burst pulses were recorded off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Dolphins (Monterey Bay)

These broadband dolphin echolocation clicks were recorded in Monterey Bay sanctuary at Point Pinos in 2020.

Dolphins (Olympic Coast)

These dolphin clicks, whistles, and moans varying in frequency from roughly 2 to 24 kiloHertz were recorded in 2019 at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary.

Dolphins (Papahānaumokuākea)

Dolphins communicate and hunt for food using sounds such as whistles, burst pulses, and echolocation clicks. These high frequency dolphin whistles were recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Dolphins (Stellwagen Bank)

Whistles produced by pods of dolphins were heard underwater east of Boston at Stellwagen Bank sanctuary.

Fin whales (Channel Islands)

Fin whales produce loud, low frequency downsweeps called ‘20-Hertz pulses’ that range from 15 to 30 Hertz. This one was recorded in 2019 east of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary.

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Fin whales (Monterey Bay)

Fin whales produce loud, low frequency downsweeps called ‘20-Hertz pulses’ that range from 15 to 30 Hertz. These calls were recorded in 2020 in Monterey Canyon inside of Monterey Bay sanctuary.

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Fin whales (Olympic Coast)

Fin whales produce loud, low frequency downsweeps called ‘20-Hertz pulses’ that range from 15 to 30 Hertz. SanctSound rarely heard fin whales in Olympic Coast sanctuary; this one was recorded at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern sanctuary border in September 2019.

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Fin whales (Stellwagen Bank)

Low frequency sounds from fin whales were recorded east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in September 2019.

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Gray whales (Channel Islands)

Gray whales produce a diverse repertoire of low frequency sounds labeled knocks, rumbles, growls, chirps, clicks, croaks, belches, bangs, grunts, and bubble blasts. This gray whale call was recorded west of San Miguel Island in 2019.

Gray whales (Monterey Bay)

Gray whales (Olympic Coast)

Gray whales produce a diverse repertoire of low frequency sounds labeled knocks, rumbles, growls, chirps, clicks, croaks, belches, bangs, grunts, and bubble blasts. This short, low-frequency gray whale call was recorded at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary in 2019.

Humpback whales (Channel Islands)

Humpback whales make a variety of sounds including moans, cries, groans and clicks. These humpback whale calls produced between 100 and 900 Hertz were recorded west of San Miguel Island in 2020.

Humpback whales (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

From December through April, the ocean around the Hawaiian islands is alive with the sounds of male humpback whale song. You can hear several humpback whales singing in this recording from our listening station off west Maui within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Humpback whales (Monterey Bay)

Humpback whales make a variety of sounds including moans, cries, groans and clicks. These humpback whale calls produced between 100 and 1,800 Hertz were recorded in Monterey Canyon in Monterey Bay sanctuary in 2020.

Humpback whales (Olympic Coast)

Humpback whales make a variety of sounds including moans, cries, groans and clicks. These humpback whale social calls were recorded in October of 2019 at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary, which is inside designated humpback whale critical habitat.

Humpback whales (Papahānaumokuākea)

From December through April the ocean around the Hawaiian islands is alive with the sounds of male humpback whale song. These whales are famous for their complex songs which are thought to play an important role in the reproductive process. This humpback whale chorusing was recorded at French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Humpback whales (Stellwagen Bank)

Humpback whales make a variety of sounds including moans, cries, groans and clicks. These humpback whale calls were recorded east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in 2019.

Killer whales (Monterey Bay)

These broadband social calls from killer whales were recorded in Monterey Canyon in Monterey Bay sanctuary in 2020.

Killer whales (Olympic Coast)

These broadband social calls from killer whales were recorded at the listening station off Cape Elizabeth and just east of the U.S. Navy Testing Area - Quinault Range W-237 A. This area is not protected habitat for killer whales.

Minke whales (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

North Pacific minke whales are known to produce a unique sound called the “boing.” This minke whale call was recorded off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Minke whales (Papahānaumokuākea)

North Pacific minke whales are known to produce a unique sound called the “boing.” This minke whale call was recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Minke whales (Stellwagen Bank)

Minke whales make repeated drum beat sounds that can be heard in this recording from east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in 2020.

Right whales (Gray’s Reef)

North Atlantic right whales produce low frequency sounds, such as this one recorded in the winter migratory season at Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Right whales (Stellwagen Bank)

North Atlantic right whales produce sounds that sweep up in frequency that can be heard in this recording from Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in November 2018.

Sea lions (Channel Islands)

California sea lions make sounds while underwater including barks, whines and buzzing sounds. Calls produced when they are in the water with their heads above the surface may also be heard underwater. This 2020 recording is from west of San Miguel Island in Channel Islands sanctuary, near one of the largest California sea lion rookeries.

Sea lions (Monterey Bay)

Sei whales (Stellwagen Bank)

The low frequency calls produced by sei whales were recorded in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary.

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Sperm whales (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Sperm whales communicate and hunt for food using “clicks.” This sperm whale was recorded off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Human-made

Explosions

Explosions (Florida Keys)

Explosions from various sources can be heard underwater and provide insights into anthropogenic activity. This explosion was detected south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary, but the source of this rare explosion is unknown.

Seal bombs (Channel Islands)

Seal bomb explosions are brief (~100 milliseconds) with most sound energy in the low-frequency range of <1 kiloHertz. Their received sound exposure levels can be 200 decibels or more. This seal bomb explosion was recorded in 2019 east of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary.

Seal bombs (Monterey Bay)

Seal bomb explosions are brief (~100 milliseconds) with most sound energy in the low-frequency range of <1 kiloHertz. Their received sound exposure levels can be 200 decibels or more. These two seal bomb explosions were recorded in 2020 on the edge of Monterey Canyon in Monterey Bay sanctuary.

Seal bombs (Olympic Coast)

Seal bomb explosions are brief (~100 milliseconds) with most sound energy in the low-frequency range of <1 kiloHertz. Their received sound exposure levels can be 200 decibels or more. These two seal bomb explosions were recorded in August 2019 at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary, which is inside designated humpback whale critical habitat.

Scuba bubbles

Scuba bubbles (Florida Keys)

As SCUBA divers exhale and inhale, bubble expansion and gas drawn from their tanks generate sound as heard in this example.

Scuba bubbles (Gray’s Reef)

As SCUBA divers exhale and inhale, bubble expansion and gas drawn from their tanks generate sound as heard in this example.

Sonar

Echosounders (Channel Islands)

These echosounder pings with acute high frequency intensity were recorded on the south side of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary in 2020.

Echosounders (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Echosounders recorded off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Echosounders (Olympic Coast)

These echosounder pings with acute high frequency intensity were recorded at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary in 2019.

Echosounders and transducers (Monterey Bay)

These rapid and high frequency echosounder pings are closely followed by a trandsducer signal at the 11 second mark. This 2020 recording is from Point Pinos in Monterey Bay sanctuary.

Pingers (Stellwagen Bank)

The deterrence sounds of fishing pingers were heard at 12 kiloHertz in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in April 2019, alerting whales and dolphins to the presence of fishing nets in the area.

Sonars (Channel Islands)

Naval sonar uses short bursts of sound to detect objects under water. This low frequency active sonar was recorded around 1,000 Hertz east of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary in 2018.

Sonars (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

This naval sonar was recorded off the north shore of Kauai within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Sonars (Monterey Bay)

Naval sonar uses short bursts of sound to detect objects under water. This low frequency active sonar was recorded around 2,500 Hertz in the middle of offshore shipping lanes in Monterey Bay sanctuary in 2019.

Sonars (Olympic Coast)

Naval sonar uses short bursts of sound to detect objects under water. This low frequency active sonar was recorded in 2019 at around 2,500 Hertz in the middle of shipping lanes on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary, which is inside designated humpback whale critical habitat.

Sonars (Papahānaumokuākea)

This sonar was recorded at our Middle Bank listening station located outside the eastern border of Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Vessels

Vessels (Channel Islands)

Propulsion systems, such as spinning propeller blades and the flow of water over the ship’s hull, are the main sources of the underwater noises made by large commercial ships. These sounds tend to be louder at higher ship speeds. This large vessel was recorded east of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary in 2019.

Vessels (Florida Keys)

Sounds from a small recreational boats were routinely recorded south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Vessels (Gray’s Reef)

Sounds from a small recreational boats were recorded off the coast of Georgia in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Vessels (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

West Maui is an area that is frequented by a large number of recreational and commercial vessels. This recording of a small boat was made off the west coast of Maui in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Vessels (Monterey Bay)

Propulsion systems, such as spinning propeller blades and the flow of water over the ship’s hull, are the main sources of the underwater noises made by large commerical ships. This low frequency ship noise was recorded in Monterey Canyon in Monterey Bay sanctuary in 2020.

Vessels (Olympic Coast)

Propulsion systems, such as spinning propeller blades and the flow of water over the ship’s hull, are the main sources of the underwater noises made by large commerical ships. These sounds tend to be louder at higher ship speeds. This low frequency vessel noise was recorded in 2019 from the listening station in the northeast corner of the sanctuary, near the mouth of Strait of Juan de Fuca at Neah Bay. This area is protected habitat for both humpback whales and Southern Resident killer whales.

Vessels (Stellwagen Bank)

Sounds from a vessel recorded near the shipping lanes in central Stellwagen Bank sanctuary.

Physical

Hurricane

Hurricanes (Florida Keys)

Hurricanes, such as this example from Florida Keys sanctuary, generate sound from wind, waves, and seafloor sediment movement that are absent during calm weather.

Hurricanes (Gray’s Reef)

Hurricanes, such as this example from September 2019 in Gray’s Reef sanctuary, generate sound from wind, waves, and seafloor sediment movement that is absence during calm weather.

Rain

Rain (Channel Islands)

Rain was recorded west of San Miguel Island in Channel Islands sanctuary in 2020.

Rain (Florida Keys)

Rain was recorded south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Rain (Gray’s Reef)

Rain was recorded off Georgia in Gray’s Reef sanctuary in 2019.

Rain (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

This rainstorm was recorded off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Rain (Monterey Bay)

Rain was recorded in Monterey Bay sanctuary in the Monterey Canyon in 2020.

Rain (Olympic Coast)

Rain recorded in Olympic Coast sanctuary off Cape Elizabeth in 2019.

Rain (Papahānaumokuākea)

Play this clip to hear what a rain sounds like underwater at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Rain (Stellwagen Bank)

Here, rain was recorded east of Boston in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in 2020.

Wind and waves

Wind and waves (Channel Islands)

Wind and waves make low frequency sound that can be heard underwater, such as the sounds heard in this 2019 recording from west of San Miguel Island in Channel Islands sanctuary.

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Wind and waves (Florida Keys)

During periods of rough sea conditions, sound generated from wind and waves can be heard underwater, such as in this example recorded south of Key West in Florida Keys sanctuary.

Wind and waves (Gray’s Reef)

During periods of rough sea conditions, sound generated from wind and waves can be heard underwater, such as in this example recorded off Georgia in Gray’s Reef sanctuary.

Wind and waves (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

These wind and wave sounds were recorded off the north shore of Kauai within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Wind and waves (Monterey Bay)

Low frequency sound produced by wind and waves were recorded at Point Pinos in Monterey Bay sanctuary in 2020.

Wind and waves (Olympic Coast)

Low frequency sound produced by wind and waves was recorded in the middle of shipping lanes on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary.

Wind and waves (Papahānaumokuākea)

These wind and wave sounds were recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument.

Wind and waves (Stellwagen Bank)

Sounds from wind and waves recorded on the shallower bank in central Stellwagen Bank sanctuary.

Soundscape

Other

Snapshots (Channel Islands)

Humpback whale song and an echosounder can be heard overlapping in Channel Islands sanctuary west of San Miguel Island in May 2020.

Snapshots (Channel Islands)

A cacophony of sounds from fish, whales and dolphins were recorded in April 2020 in Channel Islands sanctuary south of Santa Rosa Island.

Snapshots (Channel Islands)

Dolphin sounds and vessel noise co-occuring in February 2020 east of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands sanctuary.

Snapshots (Florida Keys)

The diverse sounds of snapping shrimp, red grouper, black grouper, and other fish grunts and pops were recorded in March 2019 in Florida Keys sanctuary south of Key West.

Snapshots (Florida Keys)

Repetitive fish calls and snapping shrimp snaps can be heard overlapping in Florida Keys sanctuary south of Key West in April 2020.

Snapshots (Florida Keys)

A cacophony of sounds from snapping shrimp and various species of fish were recorded in August 2020 in Florida Keys sanctuary south of Key West.

Snapshots (Gray’s Reef)

Sounds from snapping shrimp and various fish species, such as toadfish, can often be heard in the soundscape of Gray’s Reef sanctuary, such as in this recording from March 2019.

Snapshots (Gray’s Reef)

A cacophony of sounds and choruses produced by various species of fish were recorded in September 2019 in Gray’s Reef sanctuary off Georgia.

Snapshots (Gray’s Reef)

Repetitive fish calls and snapping shrimp snaps can be heard overlapping in Gray’s Reef sanctuary off Georgia in September 2019.

Snapshots (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Sounds from a small boat and singing humpback whales are both heard in this recording from a listening station off the southeast coast of Oahu in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Snapshots (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

A cacophony of humpback whale songs and snapping shrimp snaps can be heard in this recording from west Maui within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Snapshots (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale)

Dolphin and fish vocalizations can be heard in this recording from off the north shore of Kauai within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary.

Snapshots (Monterey Bay)

Vessel noise and calling humpback whales are heard simultaneously in this recording from Monterey Bay sanctuary’s Monterey Canyon listening station in April 2020.

Snapshots (Monterey Bay)

On May 1, 2019, with a waning crescent moon (~10% illumination), bocaccio calls and dolphin whistles can be heard interspersed among constant chatter of snapping shrimp in this recording from Monterey Bay sanctuary’s Point Pinos listening station. Bocaccio call more during darker periods of the monthly lunar cycle.

Snapshots (Monterey Bay)

The loud, acute seal bomb explosions punctuate the constant chatter of snapping shrimp and sounds from a nearby vessel in this recording from Monterey Bay sanctuary’s Point Pinos listening station in May of 2020.

Snapshots (Olympic Coast)

In November 2019, humpback whales can be heard calling in the distance amidst constant vessel noise in this recording from the northeast corner of the Olympic Coast sanctuary, near the mouth of Strait of Juan de Fuca at Neah Bay. This area is protected habitat for both humpback whales and Southern Resident killer whales.

Snapshots (Olympic Coast)

A snapshot of sounds, namely vessel noise and pinging from an unknown anthropogenic source, was recorded in August 2019 at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary, which is inside designated humpback whale crticial habitat.

Snapshots (Olympic Coast)

A vessel and dolphin whistles overlap in this recording from August 2019 at the shipping lanes listening station on the northern end of Olympic Coast sanctuary, which is inside designated humpback whale critical habitat.

Snapshots (Papahānaumokuākea)

A snapshot of sounds recorded at Gardner Pinnacles in Papahānaumokuākea monument containing snapping shrimp snaps, fish chirps, and dolphin whistles.

Snapshots (Papahānaumokuākea)

A snapshot of sounds recorded at French Frigate Shoals in Papahānaumokuākea monument containing humpback whale song and snapping shrimp.

Snapshots (Papahānaumokuākea)

A snapshot of sounds recorded at our Middle Bank listening station located just outside the eastern border of Papahānaumokuākea monument containing humpback whale chorusing, snapping shrimp, and dolphins.

Snapshots (Stellwagen Bank)

Long periods of sounds produced by vessels were often recorded Stellwagen Bank sanctuary, such as in this example from 2018.

Snapshots (Stellwagen Bank)

Sounds produced by distance vessels overlapped with the whistle and echolocation clicks of dolphins in this recording in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary in September 2019.

Snapshots (Stellwagen Bank)

A recording of humpback whale calls and dolphin whistles recorded on the sandy bank that gives Stellwagen Bank sanctuary its name.