Owls are nocturnal birds of prey known for their characteristic hooting calls. There are around 200 different owl species found worldwide, and many of them produce hoots as their primary vocalization.
Common Owl Species That Hoot
Here are some of the most common owl species that make hooting sounds:
- Great Horned Owl – This large and powerful owl has a deep, resonant hoot that sounds like “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoo.” It is one of the most widespread owls in North America.
- Barred Owl – The barred owl produces a distinctive hooting call that sounds like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all.” This medium-sized owl lives in forests across eastern North America.
- Eurasian Eagle-Owl – With its deep, booming hoots, this massive owl native to Europe and Asia has one of the most impressive voices in the owl world. Its call sounds like “ooo-huhuhu.”
- Great Gray Owl – The largest owl in North America utters a series of very low-pitched hoots with a rhythm like “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoo hoo.” It inhabits boreal forests in Canada and the northern U.S.
- Spotted Owl – Living in old-growth forests of western North America, the spotted owl hoots in a sequence that accelerates and descends in pitch. It sounds like “hoo hoo-hoo hoooooo.”
- Snowy Owl – Although most famous for its silent flight, the snowy owl of the Arctic tundra does sometimes vocalize. Both males and females can produce a single hoot that sounds like a loud, drawn-out “hoooooo.”
How Owls Produce Hooting Sounds
Owls make their signature hoots using specialized anatomy in their throats and faces:
- The owl’s throat and facial discs function together as a resonance chamber that amplifies and modulates sounds.
- Air blown over the owl’s vocal cords causes them to vibrate, producing a base sound.
- As this sound travels through the resonance chamber, muscles adjust the size and shape to create reverberations that give hoots their unique pitch and cadence.
- Ruffles of feathering around an owl’s beak, called filoplumes, may also influence the distinct timbre of hoots.
- Larger owl species tend to have deeper-pitched hoots due to their bigger resonance chambers.
Why Owls Hoot
Owls hoot for a few different reasons:
- Territorial Calls – Male owls hoot to claim their territories and ward off intruders.
- Pair Bonding – Male and female paired owls call back-and-forth to each other to communicate their bond and location.
- Begging Calls – Baby owlets beg for food from parents with raspy, tweeting hoots.
- Alarm Calls – Some hoots communicate alerts about threats in the area.
By hooting, owls are able to stake out territories, find mates, care for young, and issue warnings even in complete darkness. The calls allow them to essentially “see” with sound.
Identifying Owls by Their Hoots
It takes some practice, but birders can often identify species of owls just by their hoots. Here are some clues:
- Number of notes – Some owls hoot in a single extended call, while others use a series of notes.
- Rhythm and cadence – The speed and accents of notes gives hoots unique rhythms.
- Pitch – Larger owls have deeper hoots, while smaller owls’ are higher pitched.
- Timbre – Subtle quality differences help distinguish similar sounding hoots.
- Behavior – An agitated owl defending its nest may hoot more frequently.
Recordings of owl calls, available online or on CDs, can help birders learn the hoots of local species. With practice, even novice birdwatchers can identify owls hooting in the woods at night.
Other Owl Vocalizations
While hoots are the quintessential owl calls, these birds make other sounds as well:
- Screeches – Some small owl species like screech-owls produce piercing, wailing cries.
- Hisses – Disturbed owls may hiss like cats when threatened.
- Claps – The wings of owls clapping together makes a snapping or cracking sound.
- Bill-snapping – Owls snap their bills to signal aggression.
- Whistles – Rare whistling sounds are reported in some owl species.
Understanding the full repertoire of owl vocalizations helps birders read the subtle meanings in these nighttime communications.
Conclusion
The haunting hoots of owls captivate humans, while also serving essential functions for owl communication and survival. By learning to recognize the unique hoots of different owl species, we gain insight into the fascinating nocturnal world of these mysterious birds of prey.
