Quick answer
Humpback song, sperm click, blue call — use the descriptions below to match what you heard at night or on a recording.
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Humpback song
Structured phrases repeated for hours — each population has its own dialect that evolves yearly.
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Sperm whale clicks
Directional echolocation clicks used for navigation and hunting giant squid in the deep ocean.
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Blue whale pulse
Very low-frequency pulses that can travel across ocean basins — used for long-range communication.
Related species guides
FAQs
Why do whales sing?
Male humpback whales sing complex songs during breeding season — likely to attract mates and assert dominance.
Can humans hear whale sounds?
Many whale calls are low-frequency and travel hundreds of kilometres underwater. Some are audible to humans on boats or hydrophones.
Which whale has the loudest call?
Blue whales produce calls up to 188 decibels — among the loudest biological sounds on Earth.
Sources & references
Whale and marine mammal vocalisations are compiled from established cetacean research and acoustic monitoring programmes for world oceans.
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RSPB wildlife guides
UK and international bird identification.
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Cornell Lab — All About Birds
Photos, calls, and ID tips for North American species.
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iNaturalist
Community-verified species observations worldwide.
- Global Animal Guide editorial standards