Skip to main content
Sound effects / Playlists / Nature sound effects

Sound Effects

Nature sound effects

Browse nature sounds and nature sound effects for films, games and documentaries. Find forests, rivers, rain, wildlife and thunderstorms to build a sense of place.

Create free account

Want more music?

Explore our full catalog with 55,000 tracks and over 250,000 sound effects

Create free account

TL;DR: Nature sounds and nature sound effects are recordings of the outdoors, from forests and rivers to rain and thunderstorms. Build a soundscape in three layers: a steady ambience, constant habitat sounds and a few spot effects.

Nature sounds and nature sound effects for films, games and documentaries

Nature sound effects are audio recordings of the outdoors. The rustle of leaves, a river, rain on a roof or a distant thunderstorm builds a place for the viewer before the scene begins. You can find nature sounds for films, games, documentaries, vlogs and relaxation content.

The complete nature soundkit

  • Forests and jungles: Rustling leaves, distant animal calls and flowing rivers.
  • Weather and storms: A gentle breeze to a powerful thunderstorm.
  • Animals and wildlife: Birds, insects and mammals from around the world.
  • Water: Quiet streams, gentle rain and crashing ocean waves.

How to build a nature soundscape

Build your world in three layers:

  1. Foundation: Start with a steady ambience, such as wind, forest hum or room tone, to fill the space.
  2. Life: Add sounds that are always present in that habitat, such as general birdsong, crickets or insects.
  3. Spot effects: Add occasional distinct sounds, like a woodpecker, a wolf howl or a snapping branch, for realism and surprise.

Fix a noisy recording

If an outdoor recording has too much wind noise, replacing it is easier than repairing it. Lay a clean nature ambience under your footage and add spot effects to restore the sense of place.

Keep your content cleared

Connect your channels to your Epidemic Sound account (called safelisting) before you publish. Content published during an active subscription stays cleared forever, even if you cancel. Browse 250,000+ sound effects and variations, and add documentary music for nature films.

Frequently asked questions about nature sound effects

  • What are nature sounds?

    Nature sounds are recordings of the outdoors. They include forests, wind, rain, water, thunderstorms and the calls of birds, insects and animals.

  • What are nature sound effects used for?

    They add atmosphere to films, games, documentaries, travel vlogs, podcasts and relaxation videos, and they help transport the audience to a place.

  • How do I create a rich nature soundscape?

    Use three layers: a steady ambience as a foundation, a layer of constant habitat sounds such as birds and insects, and a few spot effects such as a single bird call or a branch snapping.

  • How are nature sounds recorded?

    Field recordists use high-quality microphones and portable equipment to capture a specific environment as cleanly as possible, without distracting background noise.