What do killer whales sound like?

Killer whales make a variety of sounds in different ways, including clicks used for echolocation, long whistles, pulsating calls, low-frequency pops and noise by clapping their jaws. These sounds are likely used to help communicate with other pod members and while navigating through murky water where visibility is poor.

Each pod of killer whales uses its own dialect, usually consisting of between seven and 17 unique calls. Pods that interact with each other are known to use similar sounding calls and are considered part of the same clan, while pods living in separate regions with no interaction have no dialectical calls in common.