There are a number of bird species that are known for making low-pitched whistling or hooting sounds. Identifying a specific bird by its vocalizations alone can be challenging, as different species can produce similar sounds and the same species can have regional dialects. However, by carefully listening to the pitch, tempo, tone and repetition of the whistle, it is often possible to narrow down the potential species.
Some key questions can help when trying to identify a bird by its whistle:
- Is the whistle low-pitched or high-pitched?
- Is it a single tone or does the pitch modulated up and down?
- Is it a short whistle or an extended hooting sound?
- Is there a pattern or repetition to the whistling?
- What is the habitat – forest, wetland, grassland, etc?
- What is the geographic location?
Using these clues along with visual confirmation, the following are some birds that are known for their low-pitched whistles and hoots:
Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a large owl species found throughout forests of North America. It gets its name from the horizontal brown and white barring on its chest feathers. Barred Owls have a distinctive call consisting of 8-9 low, hoarse hoots in a rhythmic pattern: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” The duration of each hoot decreases slightly, giving the call a distinctive tempo and downward pitch modulation. This low, booming call can resonate through the forest, allowing Barred Owls to communicate over large distances.
Audio of Barred Owl Call:
Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern Screech Owl is a small owl found in woodlands, parks and suburban areas of eastern North America. Despite its name, its most common call is not a screech but a resonant, whistled hoot. Its call consists of a single note repeated steadily about once per second: “hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.” The call has a low pitch and distinctive tremolo or quavering quality. Eastern Screech Owls use this haunting, melancholy whistle both to communicate with mates and defend territories. Listen for the rhythmic, bouncing hoots of this species on moonlit nights.
Audio of Eastern Screech Owl Call:
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl is the quintessential “hoot owl” of North America. It lives in forests, deserts and almost any habitat between the Arctic and tropics. Male Great Horned Owls produce one of the most iconic nighttime sounds – a deep 5-note hoot: “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo-hoo.” The call starts with two longer, lower hoots followed by three shorter, higher-pitched hoots. Females make a higher, more nasal hoot that drops sharply in pitch at the end. Great Horned Owls use their resonating hoots to communicate year-round, especially frequently during courtship and as territorial displays.
Audio of Great Horned Owl Call:
Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian Eagle Owl is one of the world’s largest owl species, found across Europe and Asia. Its plumage is mottled brown overall with distinctive ear tufts and orange eyes. Its deep booming calls carry for miles across open country. The male’s territorial call is a haunting, rhythmic series of 3-5 deep, low hoots at a steady tempo: “hu hu hu hu” or “hoo hooo hooo hooo.” Listen for these bone-chilling hoots on remote cliffsides or woodland edges.
Audio of Eurasian Eagle Owl Call:
Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian Eagle Owl is one of the world’s largest owl species, found across Europe and Asia. Its plumage is mottled brown overall with distinctive ear tufts and orange eyes. Its deep booming calls carry for miles across open country. The male’s territorial call is a haunting, rhythmic series of 3-5 deep, low hoots at a steady tempo: “hu hu hu hu” or “hoo hooo hooo hooo.” Listen for these bone-chilling hoots on remote cliffsides or woodland edges.
Audio of Eurasian Eagle Owl Call:
Great Gray Owl
The Great Gray Owl is the largest owl in North America and one of the largest in the world. It breeds in boreal forests across Canada, Alaska and the northern U.S. Rockies. Its enormous facial disks and rounded head with no ear tufts give it a distinctive, stern appearance. The male’s territorial call is a rhythmic series of very low-pitched, breathy hoots. This soft, subdued hooting has been described as sounding like the blowing of distant bottles: “pooo pooo pooo pooo.” Listen for this haunting, echoing call in remote northern forests.
Audio of Great Gray Owl Call:
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is found in open grasslands and prairies throughout much of North and South America. It has distinctive small ear tufts that are often not visible. Its primary call is a low-pitched barking sound, typically repeated steadily every 1-2 seconds. This gruff, raspy bark “waow waow waow” serves as a territorial call advertising nest sites and hunting areas. Listen for it while driving past agricultural fields at dawn and dusk.
Audio of Short-eared Owl Call:
Conclusion
In summary, some of the birds most known for their distinctive low-pitched hoots and whistles are owls such as the Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl, as well as the Short-eared Owl. Carefully listening for details of pitch, tempo, tone and repetition can help identify the species by ear alone. However, visual confirmation is recommended whenever possible. Birds that vocalize in the lower registers often rely on these resonant calls to effectively communicate across greater distances. Their hoots, whistles and barks have an iconic quality that adds to the mystery and drama of the night for listeners.
