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Our wildlife sound archive is part of the Australian National Wildlife Collection.

With a library of more than 60 000 recordings, it is the largest of its kind in Australia and among the largest in the world.

The sound recordings dating back to the 1950s, providing useful information about animal behaviour and evolution, as well as insights into taxonomy. Parrot on a branch

Our sound archive covers:

  • birds
  • mammals
  • amphibians
  • invertebrates.

While most of the recordings are of Australian birds, our sound archive also contains sounds from European, North American, South American and New Guinean wildlife.

Accessing the wildlife sound archive

Our sound archive is progressively being digitised. Available recordings can be discovered through the Atlas of Living Australia. Sound recordings may only be accessed by researchers and educators under strict data licensing conditions. None may be used for commercial purposes. To request access please contact us.

If you are interested in Australia's elusive night parrot you can listen to a recording on Rare recording of 'mysterious' night parrot song made by Indigenous rangers in Gibson Desert and read the Descriptions of known vocalisations of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis paper.

Our wildlife sound archive is part of the Australian National Wildlife Collection.

With a library of more than 60 000 recordings, it is the largest of its kind in Australia and among the largest in the world.

The sound recordings dating back to the 1950s, providing useful information about animal behaviour and evolution, as well as insights into taxonomy.

Our archive of wildlife sound recordings is the most comprehensive library of its kind in Australia and is among the largest in the world.

Our sound archive covers:

  • birds
  • mammals
  • amphibians
  • invertebrates.

While most of the recordings are of Australian birds, our sound archive also contains sounds from European, North American, South American and New Guinean wildlife.

Accessing the wildlife sound archive

Our sound archive is progressively being digitised. Available recordings can be discovered through the Atlas of Living Australia. Sound recordings may only be accessed by researchers and educators under strict data licensing conditions. None may be used for commercial purposes. To request access please contact us.

If you are interested in Australia's elusive night parrot you can listen to a recording on Rare recording of 'mysterious' night parrot song made by Indigenous rangers in Gibson Desert and read the Descriptions of known vocalisations of the Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis paper.

Interested in helping us further this research?

We seek research collaborators with complementary skills so we can work together for stronger results.

Contact us to collaborate