Animal Noises at Night

Heard a scream, a howl or a chirp outside after dark? Play these common night callers and compare. Each links to more recordings of that animal.

16 sounds · free MP3 download · free to use

Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii, recorded in UT, US, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Hailey Steele, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More owl sounds
0:10MP3
Coyote
Canis latrans, recorded in FL, US, 2024.
CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
More coyote sounds
0:18MP3
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes, recorded in United States, 2024.
CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
More fox sounds
0:20MP3
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor, recorded in Illinois, US, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: John, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More raccoon sounds
1:12MP3
Texas Trilling Cricket
Gryllus texensis, recorded in TX, USA, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Alessandro Franchini, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More cricket sounds
0:13MP3
Katydid: Broad-tipped Conehead
Neoconocephalus triops, recorded in TX, US, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Dan Johnson, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More katydid sounds
0:10MP3
Whippoorwill: Eastern Whip-poor-will
Antrostomus vociferus, recorded in Aptos, California, 2013.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Jennifer Rycenga, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More whippoorwill sounds
0:27MP3
Tree Frog: Pacific chorus frog
Pseudacris regilla, recorded in CA, US, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Eric Alan Isaacson, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More tree frog sounds
1:02MP3
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus, recorded in NC, USA, 2021.
CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
More bullfrog sounds
0:13MP3
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis, recorded in IN, US, 2026.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Daniel J. Layton, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More frog sounds
0:21MP3
Oak Toad
Anaxyrus quercicus, recorded in FL, USA, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Scott Allen Davis, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More toad sounds
0:08MP3
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus, recorded in CA, USA, 2020. Slowed 10× so the ultrasonic calls are audible.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Vanessa Ramirez, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More bat sounds
1:30MP3
Bobcat
Lynx rufus, recorded in US-NM, US, 2020.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Bob Nieman, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More bobcat sounds
0:47MP3
Cougar: Mountain Lion
Puma concolor, recorded in CA, USA, 2024.
CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Martin Mortensen, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
More cougar sounds
0:08MP3
Common Loon
Gavia immer, recorded in US-NY, US, 2025.
CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist
More loon sounds
0:16MP3
Hedgehog cry
He shouted a few seconds to find his way to his hiding place, full of life.
CC0 1.0 · BigSoundBank
More hedgehog sounds
0:42MP3

The usual suspects

Most night noises in North America come from a short list of animals. Owls hoot and screech, coyotes yip and howl in groups, red foxes give a loud scream that is easy to mistake for a person, raccoons chatter and growl, and crickets, katydids and frogs make the steady background chorus on warm nights.

Bat calls are mostly too high for people to hear; the bat recordings here are slowed down so you can.

Questions

What animal screams at night?

In much of the US and Europe it is usually a red fox, especially in winter. Owls (barn owls in particular) and bobcats can also scream. Play the fox, owl and bobcat recordings here to compare.

What makes a chirping sound at night?

On summer nights it is almost always insects: crickets give an even chirp and katydids a rasping 'katy-did'. In spring, a high peeping chorus near water is usually spring peepers, a small tree frog.