List of animal sounds

{{Short description|List of common words used to describe animal noises and their audio recordings}} {{TOC right}}

Certain words in the English language represent '''animal sounds''': the noises and vocalizations of particular animals, especially noises used by animals for communication. The words can be used as verbs or interjections in addition to nouns, and many of them are also specifically onomatopoeic.

== List of animal sounds == <ref>{{cite web |title=SoundOfAnimal – Animal and Bird Sounds Resource |url=https://soundofanimal.com/ |website=Sound of Animal |publisher=SoundOfAnimal |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" !Picture !Animal !Description

!Audio recording |- |frameless |Alligator |bellow, hiss |thumb|Alligator bellow |- |frameless |Alpaca |alarm call, cluck/click, hum, orgle, scream<ref>{{cite web |url=https://modernfarmer.com/2015/09/important-question-what-sound-does-an-alpaca-make/ |title=Important Question: What Sound Does An Alpaca Make? |date=24 September 2015 |publisher=Modern Farmer|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Antelope |snort<ref>{{cite book|last=Caro|first=Tim|title=Antipredator Defenses in Birds and Mammals|page=250|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2005|isbn= 9780226094366}}</ref> |[[file:Impala (Aepyceros melampus) (W1CDR0000514 BD37).ogg|thumb|Impala]] |- |frameless |Badger |growl<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schwartz|first1=Charles Walsh|last2=Schwartz|first2=Elizabeth Reeder|title=The Wild Mammals of Missouri|page=316|edition=2nd revised|publisher=University of Missouri Press|year=2001|isbn=9780826213594}}</ref> |thumb|Badger |- |frameless |Bat |screech,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Boughman|first1=Janette Wenrick|last2=Wilkinson|first2=Gerald S.|title=Social Influences on Foraging in Bats|journal=Mammalian Social Learning: Comparative and Ecological Perspectives|issue=72|publisher=University of Cambridge Press|page=195|year=1999}}</ref> squeak, eek |[[file:Yannick Dauby - Bats echolocation (CC by).ogg|thumb|Bats]] |- |frameless |Bear |roar, growl |[[file:Bear growl.ogg|thumb|Bear cub growl]] |- |frameless |Bee |buzz |thumb|Hummel bee [[file:BumbleBee1.ogg|thumb|Xylocopa pubescens (carpenter bee) offsprings]] |- |frameless |Big cat (Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard) |roar,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.animalfactsencyclopedia.com/Big-cat-facts.html|title=Big Cat Facts|website=Animal Facts Encyclopedia|publisher=Copyright by Jenise Alongi|access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref> growl,<ref name=estes>{{cite book|last=Estes|first=Richard|title=The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates|page=374|publisher=University of California Press|year=1991|isbn=9780520080850|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0520080858|url-access=registration}}</ref> snarl<ref>{{cite book|last=Schaller|first=George B.|title=The Deer and the Tiger|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.553304|page=261|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=1967|isbn=9780226736570}}</ref> |thumb|Tiger growl thumb|Jaguar making a content "sawing" sound. |- |frameless |Bison |bellow, moo, low |Bison |- |frameless |Camel |grunt |thumb |- |alt=Image of a capybara eating hay|frameless |Capybara |squeak,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Barros|first1=Kamila S.|last2=Tokumaru|first2=Rosana S.|last3=Pedroza|first3=Janine P.|last4=Nogueira|first4=Selene S. C.|date=2010-11-22|title=Vocal Repertoire of Captive Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): Structure, Context and Function|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01853.x|journal=Ethology|volume=117|issue=1|pages=83–94|doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01853.x|issn=0179-1613|url-access=subscription}}</ref> chatter, bark | |- |frameless |Cat |mew, meow, purr, hiss, trill, chirp, chatter, caterwaul, growl, mrrp, nya |thumb|Cat meow thumb|Domestic cat purring |- |frameless {{anchor|Cow}} |Cattle |moo, low |thumb| |- |frameless |Chicken |cluck, buck, crow<ref>{{cite book|title=Why Do Roosters Crow?: First Questions and Answers about Farms|publisher=Time-Life for Children|year=1995|isbn=9780783508993|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/whydoroosterscro0000unse}}</ref><br>cha-caw, bah-gawk (female)<ref>Caughey, Melissa (2015). ''A Kid's Guide to Keeping Chickens: Best Breeds, Creating a Home, Care and Handling, Outdoor Fun, Crafts and Treats.'' Storey Publishing. p. 90</ref> <br />cock-a-doodle-doo (male) |thumb thumb thumb|Rooster crowing |- |frameless |Chinchilla |squeak<ref>{{cite book|last=Winter|first=Lisa|title=The Ultimate Guide To Chinchilla Care|page=24|publisher=Simple Sequence Books}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Cicada |chirp<ref>{{cite journal|last=Power|first=Carla|author-link=Carla Power|title=Ruins with A View|journal=Newsweek International|page=24|date=September 4, 2000}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title=List of Animal Sounds with Audio |url=https://soundofanimal.com/animal-sounds/ |website=Sound of Animal |publisher=SoundOfAnimal |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref> |thumb|Cicada |- |frameless |Crab |chirp, click, creak<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.answers.com/Q/What_sound_does_a_crab_make|title=What sound does a crab make?|website=Answers|access-date=October 17, 2020}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=October 2024}} | |- |frameless |Crane |trumpet, bugle |thumb| |- |frameless |Cricket |chirp |thumb|Cricket |- |frameless |Crow |caw, cah<ref>{{cite book|last=Holmes|first=Hannah|title=Suburban Safari: A Year on the Lawn|url=https://archive.org/details/suburbansafariye00holm|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/suburbansafariye00holm/page/10 10]|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2005|isbn=9781596918115}}</ref> |thumb|Black Crow |- |frameless |Crocodile |hiss, growl | |- |frameless |Curlew |pipe<ref>{{cite book|last=White|first=Gilbert|title=The natural history and antiquities of Selborne. With The naturalist's calendar and miscellaneous observations|page=449|year=1837}}</ref> |thumb| |- |frameless |Deer |bellow, bell (buck), bleat (doe, fawn) |[[file:Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (W1CDR0001424 BD3).ogg|thumb|Red deer]] |- |frameless |Dog |arf, bark, boof, bay, howl, growl, snarl, moan, whine, whimper, yelp, scream, sigh, sneeze, woof, yip, yap |[[file:Barking of a dog.ogg|thumb|Dog bark]] |- |frameless |Dolphin |click,<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Ben |title=Dolphins of the World |page=29 |publisher=Voyager Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780896585362}}</ref> whistle,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Harley|first=Heidi E.|date=13 November 2007|title=Whistle discrimination and categorization by the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (''Tursiops truncatus''): A review of the signature whistle framework and a perceptual test|journal=Behavioural Processes|publisher=Elsevier|volume=77|issue=2|doi=10.1016/j.beproc.2007.11.002|pages=243–268|pmid=18178338}}</ref> squeal |thumb|Dolphins calling |- |frameless |Donkey |hee-haw,<ref>{{cite book|last=Metz|first=Lorijo|title=Donkeys: Jennies, Jacks, and Foals|page=[https://archive.org/details/donkeysjenniesja0000metz/page/10 10]|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2011|isbn=9781448806881|url=https://archive.org/details/donkeysjenniesja0000metz/page/10}}</ref> bray |[[file:Домашний Осёл, Киприотский.ogg|thumb|Domestic donkey brays]] |- |frameless |Duck |quack |[[file:Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (W1CDR0001518 BD17).ogg|thumb|Mallard Duck]] |- |frameless |Eagle |screech<ref>{{cite journal|title=Caught in the Act - to Capture Bald Eagles on Film, a Husband-and-Wife Team Has Spent Years Perfecting the Art of Anticipation|journal=National Wildlife|page=24|date=February–March 2001|volume=39|issue=2|url=http://www.questiaschool.com/read/1G1-70888306/caught-in-the-act-to-capture-bald-eagles-on-film|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |thumb|Bald Eagle |- |frameless |Elephant |trumpet, snort, rumble, growl, roar |[[file:Elephant voice - trumpeting.ogg|thumb|Elephant trumpet]] |- |frameless |Elk |bugle (''male''),<ref name="Thomas">{{cite book| last = Thomas| first = Jack Ward|author2=Toweill, Dale | title = Elk of North America, Ecology and Management | publisher = HarperCollins| year= 2002| location = New York| isbn = 0-8117-0571-4}}</ref> bleat (''calves'')<ref>{{cite book|last=Ballard|first=Jack|title=Elk: A Falcon Field Guide|page=47|publisher=Morris Book Publishing|year=2012|isbn=9780762776269|quote=Elk vocalizations aren't reserved just for the bulls. Cows and ... Calves may respond to the cow calls with their own low bleats. When large ..}}</ref> |[[file:Elkbellow.ogg|thumb|Elk bellow]] |- |frameless |Ferret |dook<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mathis|first1=Christine|last2=Morton|first2=E. Lynn|title=Ferrets|page=87|publisher=Barron's|year=2010|isbn=9780764143328}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Fish |brrp, click, blub, glub, honk<ref>https://fishsounds.net/</ref> | |- |frameless |Fly |buzz<ref>{{Cite web |title=House Fly Sounds: How House Flies Generate the Sound We Hear {{!}} Orkin |url=https://www.orkin.com/pests/flies/house-flies/house-fly-sounds |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=www.orkin.com |language=en}}</ref> |[[file:Bee sounds near Cologne, Germany - reinsamba.wav|thumb|''Bombylius major'']] |- |frameless {{anchor|Fox}} |Fox |bark, scream, howl, snore, gecker<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-07|title=What does the red fox say?|url=https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-09/what-sound-does-fox-make/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Popular Science|language=en-US}}</ref> | <br> thumb|Fox scream |- |frameless |Frog |croak, ribbit, chirp |thumb|Pacific tree frog |- |frameless |Gaur |low, moo |thumb| |- |frameless |Giraffe |bleat,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Silverstein|first1=Alvin|last2=Silverstein|first2=Virginia|title=Nature's Champions: The Biggest, the Fastest, the Best|url=https://archive.org/details/natureschampions00silv_0|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/natureschampions00silv_0/page/19 19]|publisher=Random House|year=1980|isbn=9780486428888}}</ref> hum<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Baotic, A. |author2=Sicks, F. |author3=Stoeger, A. S. |year=2015|title=Nocturnal "humming" vocalizations: adding a piece to the puzzle of giraffe vocal communication|journal=BMC Research Notes|volume=8|page=425|doi=10.1186/s13104-015-1394-3|pmc=4565008 |pmid=26353836 |doi-access=free }}</ref> |thumb|Giraffe hum |- |frameless |Goat |bleat, maa |thumb|Herd of goats bleating |- |frameless |Goose |honk, hiss |thumb|Geese Honking |- |frameless |Grasshopper |chirp<ref name="Grasshoppers Heinrichs">{{cite book|last=Heinrichs|first=Anna|title=Grasshoppers|page=4|publisher=Compass Point Books|year=2002|isbn=9780756501662}}</ref> |thumb|Grasshoppers chirping |- |frameless |Guinea pig |wheek<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gunter |first1=Veronika Alica |last2=Newcomb |first2=Rain |title=Pet Science: 50 Purr-fectly Woof-worthy Activities for You & Your Pets |page=21 |publisher=Lark Books |year=2006 |isbn=9781579907860}}</ref> |thumb| |- |frameless |Hamster |squeak<ref>{{cite book|last=Bartlett|first=Patricia Pope|title=The Hamster Handbook|page=[https://archive.org/details/hamsterhandbook00bart/page/37 37]|publisher=Barron's|year=2003|isbn=9780764122941|url=https://archive.org/details/hamsterhandbook00bart/page/37}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Hawk |screech |220x124px|thumb|right|Hawk screeching |- |frameless |Hermit crab |chirp<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkins|first=Kelli A.|title=Hermit Crabs For Dummies|publisher=Wiley Publishing|year=2007|isbn=9781118068267}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Hippopotamus |growl,<ref name="bumper">{{cite book|last=Symons|first=Mitchell|title=The Bumper Book For The Loo: Facts and figures, stats and stories – an unputdownable treat of trivia|page=364|publisher=Random House|year=2012|isbn=9781448152711}}</ref> grunt, snort | |- |frameless |Hornet |buzz |thumb|Hummel bee |- |frameless |Horse |neigh, whinny, nicker, hoofbeats (clip-clop) |thumb| |- |frameless |Hyena |laugh |[[file:Giggling call of a spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) - 1472-6785-10-9-S4.oga|thumb|Spotted Hyena]] |- |frameless |Jackal |gecker<ref name=estes/> |[[file:Lupulella mesomelas, roep met skemer, Skeerpoort, 2022-01-01, a.mp3|thumb|Black-backed jackal]] |- |frameless |Koala |bellow, shriek | |- |frameless |Laughing kookaburra |laugh |thumb |- |frameless |Lemur |chatter, whoop |thumb |- |frameless |Leopard |roar, growl, snarl | |- |frameless |Linnet |chuckle<ref>{{cite book|last=Le Clerc|first=Georges Louis|title=The natural history of birds, from the Fr. of the count de Buffon|page=54|year=1793}}</ref> |thumb |- |frameless |Lion |roar, growl, snarl |thumb|Lion roar |- |frameless |Lizard |hiss | |- |frameless |Locust |chirp<ref name="Grasshoppers Heinrichs" /> | |- |frameless |Magpie |chatter<ref>{{cite book|last=Birkhead|first=Tim|title=The Magpies: The Ecology and Behaviour of Black-Billed and Yellow-Billed Magpies|page=250|publisher=T & AD Poyser|year=1991|isbn=9781408137772}}</ref> |[[File:Yellowstone sound library - Pica hudsonia - 001.mp3|thumb|Magpie]] |- |frameless |Meerkat |bark | |- |frameless |Monkey |scream, chatter, gecker,<ref name="estes" /> howl |thumb|Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) |- |frameless |Moose |bellow<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=International Wildlife Encyclopedia |title=Moose|page=1656|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|year=2002|url=http://www.questiaschool.com/library/119254769/international-wildlife-encyclopedia|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | |- |frameless |Mosquito |buzz, whine |thumb |- |frameless |Mouse |squeak |thumb |- |frameless |Okapi |cough, bellow<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lindsey|first1=Susan Lyndaker|last2=Green|first2=Mary Neel|last3=Bennett|first3=Cynthia L.|title=The Okapi: Mysterious Animal of Congo-Zaire|page=34|publisher=University of Texas Press|year=1999|isbn=9780292788329}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Opossum |click, growl, hiss | |- |frameless |Owl |hoot, hiss, caterwaul for barred owls, twit twoo for tawny owls <ref>{{Cite web |last=Trust |first=Woodland |date=2023-12-21 |title=Identify UK owl calls |url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2023/12/owl-call-identification/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Woodland Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref> |thumb|Great horned owl |- |frameless |Ox |low, moo |thumb| |- |frameless |Parrot |squawk, talk |[[File:Pionus seniloides - White-capped Parrot XC251382.mp3|thumb|White-capped Parrot]] thumb|Rose-ringed Parakeet imitating human speech |- |frameless |Peacock |scream,<ref>{{cite book|last=Attarde|first=I. P.|title=Encyclopedic Graded Grammar|page=25|volume=1|publisher=LULU|year=2007|isbn=9781435707177}}</ref> squawk, honk |[[file:Indian Peafowl.ogg|thumb|Peacock]] |- |frameless |Penguin |chirp, honk, trumpet, bray |[[file:King Penguin Rookery Audio.oga|thumb|King penguins]] |- |frameless {{anchor|Pig}} |Pig |oink,<ref name="bumper" /><ref>"[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oink Oink]." ''Merriam-Webster''. 26-01-2016.</ref> snort,<ref>{{cite book|author=QA International Collectif|title=So Many Ways to Communicate - A new way to explore the animal kingdom|year=1999|page=29|publisher=Québec Amerique|isbn=9782764409213}}</ref> squeal, grunt |[[file:Mudchute pig 1.ogg|thumb|Pig]] |- |frameless |Pigeon |coo |thumb|Wood pigeon |- |frameless |Prairie dog |bark<ref>{{cite book|title=Behavior of Exotic Pets|editor=Valerie V. Tynes|page=149|publisher=Blackwell|year=2010|isbn=9781118710135}}</ref> |thumb |- |frameless |Quail |call |[[file:Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) (W1CDR0001390 BD1).ogg|thumb|Call of a male common quail]] |- |frameless |Rabbit |squeak |thumb|Rabbit |- |frameless |Raccoon |trill<ref>{{cite book|last=Siegel|first=Mordecai|title=The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book|page=136|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2004|isbn=9780062030399}}</ref> |thumb|Baby Raccoon Chatter |- |frameless |Rat |squeak | |- |frameless |Raven |caw, cronk |[[file:Common Raven (Corvus corax) (W1CDR0001449 BD6).ogg|thumb|Common Raven]] |- |frameless |River otter |blow, chatter, chirp, creek, grunt, hiccup, hiss, scream, squeak, swish, whine, whistle, chatterchirp,<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Walkley |first1=Sarah |title=Vocalizations of North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) in Two Human Care Populations |type=MA Thesis |date=Spring 2018 |publisher=University of Southern Mississippi |url=https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/350/ |access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1121/1.5068543 | title=Vocalizations of North American river otters ( ''Lontra canadensis'' ) in two human care populations | date=2018 | last1=Walkley | first1=Sarah | last2=Zapetis | first2=Maria | last3=Lyn | first3=Heidi | journal=The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America | volume=144 | issue=3_Supplement | page=1954 | bibcode=2018ASAJ..144.1954W }}</ref> purr<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pesaturo |first1=Janet |title=River Otter Vocalizations: the Purr |url=https://winterberrywildlife.ouroneacrefarm.com/2020/02/11/river-otter-vocalizations-the-purr/ |website=Winterberry Wildlife |date=11 February 2020 |access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Rook |caw |thumb |- |frameless |Seal |bark<ref>{{cite journal|last=McCausland|first=Jim|title=Hood Canal Hideaway: Between Seattle and the Olympics, an Unsung Getaway Just Got Better|journal=Sunset|volume=214|issue=5|page=64+|date=May 2005|url=http://www.questiaschool.com/read/1G1-131958512/hood-canal-hideaway-between-seattle-and-the-olympics|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |[[file:Arctocephalus forsteri - sound.ogg|thumb|New Zealand fur seal]] |- |frameless |Sheep |bleat, baa, maa, meh (lambs) |thumb|Sheep |- |frameless |Snake |hiss, rattle |thumb|Rattlesnake |- |frameless |Songbird |chirrup, chirp, tweet, sing, <br />warble (''larks / warblers / wrens''),<ref name="strengthen">{{cite book|last=Rao|first=S. N.|title=Strengthen Your English|page=26|publisher=V. V. K. Subburaj|year=2004|isbn=9788172540531}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Stallcup|first=Rich|title=Birds of California: A Guide to Viewing Distinctive Varieties|page=38|publisher=American Traveler|year=1993|isbn=9781558381322}}</ref> twitter (''sparrows'')<ref>{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=S. D.|page=365|title=A Text Book of Scientific and Technical Communication Writing for Engineers and Professionals|publisher=Sarup & Sons|edition=3rd|year=2007|isbn=9788176257510}}</ref> |thumb|Goldfinch |- |frameless |Squirrel |squeak |thumb |- |frameless |Swan |cry, trumpet, bugle |[[file:Cygnus buccinator - Trumpeter Swan - XC96531.ogg|thumb|Trumpeter swan]] |- |frameless |Tapir |squeak<ref>{{cite book|title=Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/endangeredwildli12mars|url-access=registration|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|page=1460|year=2001|isbn=9780761471943}}</ref> | |- |frameless |Tokay gecko |croak<ref>{{cite book|last=Perez|first=Larry|title=Snake in the Grass: An Everglades Invasion|page=55|publisher=Pineapple Press|year=2012|isbn=9781561645138}}</ref> |220x124px|thumb|right|Tokay gecko mating call |- |frameless |Turkey |gobble |[[file:Meleagris gallopavo - Wild Turkey XC136045.ogg|thumb|Wild Turkey]] |- |frameless |Turtle |grunt (mating), hiss | |- |frameless |Whale |sing |[[file:Humpback-Whale-Song-and-Foraging-Behavior-on-an-Antarctic-Feeding-Ground-pone.0051214.s001.oga|220x124px|thumb|Humpback whale]] Sperm_Whale_Creak_2 Sperm whale |- |frameless |Wild boar |growl, grumble ||[[file:Boar.Grwls(1).ogg|thumb|Wild boar]] |- |frameless |Wildebeest |low, moo | |- |frameless |Wolf |howl, growl, bay |[[file:Wolf howls.ogg|thumb|Wolf howls]] |- |frameless |Zebra |bray, bark, whistle, yip, nicker | |}

== References ==

== External links ==

{{Wiktionary category|category=en:Animal sounds|type=animal sounds}} {{Commons category|Audio files of animal sounds}} * [http://www.animal-sounds.org List of animal sounds to download, listen and use for free.] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110217000528/http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/Personal/dabbott/animal.html Multilingual list of animal sounds] Derek Abbott, University of Adelaide

{{DEFAULTSORT:Animal Sounds}} Category:Animal sounds Category:Linguistics lists Category:Zoosemiotics Category:Sound-related lists