With such a diverse species, it can be difficult to tell owls apart. Given that they are adept at hiding, physical appearance isn’t the only way people use to identify them.
That’s why today we’re going to learn how to use their vocalizations to identify different owl species.
How To Identify 9 Owls By Their Calls?
If you’re bird-watching owls, you might not always be able to see the owl. Listening for their calls is an excellent way to pinpoint which owl you’re looking for. The following are owl species that are relatively easy to identify using their calls.
Barn Owl
Not only is this owl very common, but its vocalizations are undeniably easy to recognize. There are two types of calls that barn owls make: screeches and hisses. Their screech is a high-pitched, eerie sound that is easy to identify. It’s often described as a drawn-out, raspy sound.
You’ll hear barn owls screeching more often during spring, as it is their breeding season. The best time to hear barn owls is at dawn at dusk, although they can also be active during the night.
The hissing calls that a barn owl makes are similar to a snake’s hiss, adding to the creepiness of this owl’s sounds.
Note that barn owls do not hoot, which is the typical call we associate with owls. Their calls are more akin to screaming and shrieking, so the barn owl is easily distinguishable from other species.
Barred Owl
Unlike barn owls, barred owls are typical (true) owls, and they hoot. Their most recognizable call is described as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?”
Basically, it’s a series of eight hoots split into what sounds like two phrases with the last syllable slightly elongated. This is a vocalization that the barn owl repeats several times a day.
They do have other calls, including a softer “hoo-ah” sound the owls seem to use as an inspection call.
Other calls also include cackling and gurgling during courtship or territorial disputes. They may even let out louder hoots or screeches when defending their territory, but these aren’t vocalizations unique to the barred owl. It’s better to focus on their signature hoot if you’re trying to identify the bird.
Barred owls are known to respond to playbacks of their hoots. So, if you’re somewhere you think you might find a barred owl, consider playing a recording of their eighth-note hoot. They’ll probably respond vigorously.
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, a formidable and iconic bird of prey, is renowned for its diverse vocalizations.
These distinctive sounds play a crucial role in communication and are often used as a means of identification.
Probably the most recognized sound of the Great Horned Owl is its deep, resonant hoot. Often described as a series of four to five rhythmic notes, the typical pattern is a slow, deliberate sequence that can be transcribed as “hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo-hah.”
This hoot is a powerful and haunting sound, often heard during the night, especially during the breeding season (late winter to early spring).
Great Horned Owls are also known for their dueting behavior. During this time, you can expect to hear both the male and female owls hooting together, creating a harmonious and haunting sound.
The female’s hoot is typically higher pitched than the male’s, adding to the overall complexity and beauty of the duet.
In addition to hooting, Great Horned Owls may also emit other vocalizations, such as screeches, hisses, and clicks.
These sounds are often used for various purposes, including communication with their young, defense of territory, and courtship.
Eastern Screech-Owl
These small nocturnal owls have a very distinct call that may be difficult to hear at first, but it is easily distinguishable.
The most common call of the Eastern Screech-Owl is a series of shrill whines that sound like “whee-oo.” The descending notes resemble a horse whinnying and are what you can typically identify this owl with.
During breeding seasons, you might even hear this horse-like whinny in antiphonal pairs.
You would hear the male’s lower-pitched whinny alternating with the female’s high-pitched response. The male and female Eastern Screech owls use these vocalizations during their courtship.
In addition to the whinny, this owl produces an extending trill on a single pitch. This is a soothing sound that they use to maintain contact within their social groups. I’ve always felt that it sounds like a kitten in distress.
Given their name, you might have expected them to screech a lot. However, these owls only tend to screech when defending their young or their nests.
They may also produce softer sounds, such as chitters or barks, especially when agitated or during interactions with other birds.
Burrowing Owl
You’d think these owls burrow their nests into trees, but they actually live on the ground. Their distinctive “coo coooo” sound is very high-pitched and often repeated in pairs.
You might notice that their typical call ends with a gentle wheeze, and it is soft rather than gravelly like other rawls.
These empathic and soft coos that are distinguishing features of the burrowing owl’s vocalizations.
When threatened, they also let out a raspy scream that can be compared to a rattlesnake. They tend to hide in burrows made in the ground and make this rattling sound as a defense mechanism.
Western Screech-Owl
If I put the Eastern and Western Screech Owl side-by-side, you probably have a difficult time telling them apart.
However, they have adapted to produce different vocalizations. The Western Screech owls let out a series of hoots that speed up.
These accelerating series of whistles can be likened to a bouncing ball towards the end.
Note that these owls are not strictly nocturnal, so you might hear their distinctive melodic call during the day.
Female western screech owls produce soft, downward-slurring solicitation calls. These calls are used primarily during mating season to communicate with males and can be recognized by their gentle, melodic quality.
In addition to its main calls, the Western Screen Owl also produces other vocalizations such as chirps and whistles. You’ll notice these when they are interacting with their young or during breeding season.
Elf Owl
Known as the smallest owl in North America, the Elf Owl has very distinctive vocalization. You can hear these magnificent creatures at dusk and dawn.
The tiny birds can often be heard calling to one another in a series of high-pitched yaps or chuckles. I’d say that these calls sound like the bark of a young puppy. They typically consist of rapid sequences of notes.
While the Elf Owl’s calls can be easily confused with other small birds, there are several key characteristics that set them apart. The calls are higher in pitch and less resonant than those of larger owls.
These calls can carry over large distances, so you might distinguish the call, but the owl may be very far from your location. The high-pitched calls are surprisingly loud for such a small bird.
In addition to the main call, elf owls may emit softer chirps and chatter, particularly during interactions with mates or when communicating with their young. These sounds are often melodic and can vary in pitch.
Northern Saw-Whet Owl
This is an owl with an unmistakable call you’ll be able to recognize instantly when you hear it. The Northern Saw-Whet Owl produces a “toot-toot-toot” advertising call.
You can hear their repeating, rhythmic pattern from late January through May. This is when the males establish their territory and attract mates.
There may be some variation in the rate of calling, because it depends on multiple environmental factors. Nighttime temperature and prey availability will impact the rate of calls.
Another notable vocalization is the “ksew” call, which is a harsh, staccato sound that can be quite loud. This call may be used during aggressive encounters or when the owl feels threatened.
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl has a variety of other vocalizations. These include:
- Whine: This is a high-pitched whine the owl produces when it is agitated or threatened. It sounds a little like a cat’s meow.
- Barking: With varying intensity, this owl will let out barking sounds when in territorial disputes.
- Twittering: They may produce soft twittering with bill snaps when communicating with mates and family members.
Snowy Owl
This strikingly beautiful owl is easy to spot because of its white plumage.
But it also has an amazing vocal repertoire that is a key to identifying the Snowy Owl, especially during breeding seasons.
Males produce loud, booming hoots to attract mates and establish territory, while females use similar calls but at a higher pitch.
During courtship, females emit a powerful, shrill whinny to solicit attention from males.
When feeling threatened or alarmed, Snowy Owls produce a guttural alarm call to warn off potential predators or intruders near their nesting sites.
Additionally, they can also produce cackling sounds during displays of excitement or aggression.
These vocalizations are most prominent during the breeding season, which occurs from late winter into spring.
By familiarizing yourself with these vocal characteristics, you can enhance your ability to identify Snowy Owls by sound alone.
Compared to other owls, the Snowy Owl’s calls tend to be more booming and less gravelly than the Great Horned Owl and less melodic and more direct than the Barred Owl. Unlike the Barn Owl, Snowy Owls have a broader range of lower-pitched hoots and guttural sounds.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the vocal characteristics and unique calls of different owls is a great way to identify them by sound alone.
It will also add to your experience of observing these magnificent creatures once you learn the difference between their various hoots and screeches.
