Researchers Uncover Oldest Known Recording of Whale Song

Discovery of 1949 humpback whale recording could provide new insights into ocean soundscape and whale communication.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:54pm

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Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts have discovered what they believe to be the oldest known recording of whale song, dating back to 1949. The haunting humpback whale song was captured by scientists testing sonar systems and performing acoustic experiments in Bermuda. The recording not only provides a rare glimpse into whale communication from over 70 years ago, but also offers a snapshot of the much quieter ocean soundscape of that era, before increased human-made noises like shipping. Experts say the discovery could help scientists better understand how whales adapt their calls based on their acoustic environment.

Why it matters

This discovery of the oldest known recording of whale song is significant because it provides a rare window into how whales communicated and the ocean soundscape over 70 years ago. Comparing this historical recording to modern whale songs can help researchers understand how whales have adapted their vocalizations in response to increasing human-made ocean noise from shipping, oil exploration, and other sources.

The details

The recording was made in March 1949 by scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who were testing sonar systems and performing acoustic experiments in Bermuda. At the time, they did not realize the significance of the humpback whale song they had captured on a well-preserved plastic disc created by a Gray Audograph, a type of dictation machine. The recording predates the famous discovery of whale song by scientist Roger Payne by nearly 20 years.

  • The recording was made in March 1949.
  • The recording predates Roger Payne's discovery of whale song by nearly 20 years.

The players

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

A marine research organization located in Falmouth, Massachusetts that conducts oceanographic research and operates research vessels.

Peter Tyack

A marine bioacoustician and emeritus research scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Ashley Jester

The director of research data and library services at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who discovered the 1949 whale song recording.

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What they’re saying

“The recovered recordings "not only allow us to follow whale sounds, but they also tell us what the ocean soundscape was like in the late 1940s. That's very difficult to reconstruct otherwise.”

— Peter Tyack, Marine bioacoustician and emeritus research scholar

What’s next

Researchers plan to analyze the 1949 recording in more depth to better understand how whale communication has evolved over the past seven decades in response to changes in the ocean soundscape.

The takeaway

This remarkable discovery of the oldest known recording of whale song provides a rare glimpse into the ocean's acoustic environment over 70 years ago, before significant increases in human-generated noise. Comparing this historical recording to modern whale vocalizations can help scientists gain new insights into how these marine mammals have adapted their communication in the face of a rapidly changing acoustic landscape.