Elliot Kim
Owls are well-known for their distinctive hooting calls, but not all owls sound the same. Each species of owl has its own unique call, and some have more than one. Owls call for a variety of reasons, including claiming and defending territories, attracting mates, and keeping in contact with each other. While hooting is the most well-known owl sound, these birds also produce a range of other vocalizations, such as barks, whistles, coos, and cries. Some owls, like the Northern Saw-whet Owl, are even named after the unique sounds they make. The ability to identify owl calls is particularly important because their nocturnal habits make them easier to hear than to see.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do all owls sound the same? | No, each species of owl has its own unique call. |
| Example of owl species | Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Elf Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Burrowing Owl, Barred Owl |
| Great Horned Owl call | Deep, soft hoots with a stuttering rhythm; also screams, barks, shrieks, hisses, coos, wavering cries, beak snaps, etc. |
| Barn Owl call | Raspy screech or shriek |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl call | Series of short, whistle-like toots on the same pitch, likened to a commercial truck backing up or a saw being sharpened on a whetstone |
| Elf Owl call | Fast series of 5-7 high-pitched notes, likened to the yipping of a small dog |
| Eastern Screech-Owl call | Series of quick toots that produce a descending trill, likened to a high-pitched horse whinny |
| Burrowing Owl call | Simple coo-coooo, coo-coooo, with a gentle wheeze at the end; may also mimic rattlesnakes |
| Barred Owl call | Distinctive hooting call of 8-9 notes, described as "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" |
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What You'll Learn
Each owl species has a unique call
The Great Horned Owl, for example, advertises its territory with deep, soft hoots with a stuttering rhythm: "hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo". Interestingly, the male and female of a breeding pair may perform a duet, with the female's voice at a higher pitch than the male's. Young owls from this species give piercing screams when begging for food, while adults may scream to defend their nests.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl gets its name from one of its calls, which sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone: "toot-toot-toot-toot". This call is used by males to announce their presence and claim their territory.
The Elf Owl, the smallest owl species in the world, has a "chatter song" consisting of a fast series of five to seven high-pitched notes that resemble the yipping of a small dog.
The Eastern Screech Owl, despite its name, typically makes a series of quick toots that produce a descending trill, similar to a high-pitched horse whinny.
By learning to identify these unique calls, we can better understand and appreciate the fascinating world of owls and their diverse vocalizations.
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Great Horned Owls
Each species of owl has its own unique call, sometimes more than one. While owls are commonly known as "hooters", they also make a variety of other sounds.
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Northern Saw-whet Owls
Each species of owl has its own unique call, sometimes more than one. The Northern Saw-whet Owl, one of the most common owls in forests across northern North America, is no exception. The name 'Northern Saw-whet' may have been derived from one of its calls, which sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. This call is a series of short, repetitive, whistle-like toots, all on the same pitch, and lasting for several minutes. The male Northern Saw-whet Owl uses this call to announce its presence and claim its territory, and can be heard up to half a mile away.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl has several other calls, including whines, guttural sounds, high tssst calls, squeaks, and high-pitched barks. They also make a snapping sound with their beaks when captured or approached closely. These owls are highly nocturnal and seldom seen, but their distinctive too-too-too call can be heard on quiet nights from January to May in forests of northern and western North America.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a tiny owl with a cat-like face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes. They are highly reclusive and nocturnal, making them difficult to spot. They mainly feed on small rodents, especially deer mice, and usually eat their prey in pieces over the course of two meals. The female Northern Saw-whet Owl incubates the eggs and broods the young, while the male hunts and provides food for the family.
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Elf Owls
Each species of owl has its own unique call, sometimes more than one. The smallest owl in the world, the Elf Owl, is no exception to this rule.
The Elf Owl's "chatter song" consists of a fast series of five to seven high-pitched notes that some have likened to the yipping of a small dog. The vocalizations of Elf Owls vary according to sex, with males exhibiting a wider range of complex notes. Males have two primary classifications of songs, Class A and Class B. Class A songs vary in length (generally 5-15 notes) and are used as territorial proclamations and to herald the arrival of males to females in the area. Class B functions as the primary mating call, stimulating females and encouraging them to accept male sexual advances.
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Barn Owls
Each species of owl has its own unique call, and barn owls are no exception. Unlike most owls, barn owls do not hoot. Instead, they make a long, harsh scream that lasts about two seconds. This call is made mostly by males, who often call out repeatedly from the air to beckon their mates to inspect a prospective nesting site. Females, on the other hand, use the call infrequently, sometimes to beg for food from their male counterparts.
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Frequently asked questions
No, each species of owl has its own unique call, sometimes more than one.
The Great Horned Owl is known for its deep, soft hoots with a stuttering rhythm: "hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo". Male and female pairs often perform a duet, with the female's voice at a higher pitch than the male's. The Northern Saw-whet Owl gets its name from the sound it makes, reminiscent of a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. The Elf Owl, the smallest owl species, has a "chatter song" that resembles the yipping of a small dog.
Owls vocalize for various reasons. They may call to claim and defend territories, attract mates, or keep in contact with each other. During the breeding season, owls are generally noisier, while during non-breeding times, they are mostly quiet.
By learning the unique calls of different owl species, humans can identify them by sound. This is particularly useful since owls are nocturnal and easier to hear than to see in the wild. Resources like audio recordings and field guides can help with identification.
