SFX Jar

Cicada Sounds

Hear how different cicadas sound: Cassin's 17-year Cicada, Hieroglyphic Cicada, Scissor Grinder, Pharaoh Cicada and more. Play, loop or download each recording.

8 sounds · free MP3 download · free to use

Cicada Sounds

  1. Cassin's 17-year Cicada

    Magicicada cassinii, recorded in US-WI, US, 2024.

    CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

    0:13MP3

  2. Hieroglyphic Cicada

    Neocicada hieroglyphica, recorded in MO, USA, 2024.

    CC BY 4.0 · Credit: florawhite, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    0:20MP3

  3. Scissor Grinder

    Neotibicen pruinosus, recorded in IL, USA, 2024. Slowed 10× so the ultrasonic calls are audible.

    CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

    1:30MP3

  4. Pharaoh Cicada

    Magicicada septendecim, recorded in NJ, USA, 2021.

    CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

    0:20MP3

  5. Swamp Cicada

    Neotibicen tibicen, recorded in TX, US, 2022.

    CC BY 4.0 · Credit: Dan Johnson, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    0:14MP3

  6. Cicada, foley #1

    Song of a cicada. Sound effect made with a maraca. Easy to loop.

    CC0 1.0 · BigSoundBank

    0:12MP3

  7. Cicada, foley #2

    Song of a cicada. Sound effect made with a maraca. Easy to loop.

    CC0 1.0 · BigSoundBank

    0:17MP3

  8. Cicada 1, short

    Song of a cicada. Short version.

    CC0 1.0 · BigSoundBank

    0:13MP3

More insects and animal sounds

All animal sounds

Questions

Can I use these cicada sounds in a YouTube video or a paid project?

Yes. Every clip here is CC0, public domain or CC BY, and all of those allow use in monetised videos, podcasts, games, apps and client work, with no fee and no need to ask.

Do I need to give credit for these cicada sounds?

Only for two of the eight clips, the ones marked CC BY 4.0. Put the credit line in your description or end credits, for example "Hieroglyphic Cicada, florawhite, CC BY 4.0" and "Swamp Cicada, Dan Johnson, CC BY 4.0". The other six need no credit.

Do all cicadas sound the same?

No. Each species has its own calls, which is why this page has five of them: Cassin's 17-year Cicada, Hieroglyphic Cicada, Scissor Grinder, Pharaoh Cicada and Swamp Cicada. If you are trying to name one you heard, start with the species found near you.

Why are the bat calls slowed down?

Bats echolocate with calls above 20 kHz, beyond human hearing. These recordings were made with bat detectors and slowed ten times, which brings the calls down into the range you can hear.