Owls make a variety of sounds, including hoots, barks, whistles, coos, and cries. The most common sound associated with owls is their hooting, which is deep and soft and used to claim territory and call for mates. However, different species of owls make different sounds. For example, the Barn Owl emits a high-pitched scream to communicate with other members of its species or to signal distress or a warning. The Eastern Screech-Owl makes a descending whinny, capped off with a trill. The Great Horned Owl is known for its deep, low, booming hoots, which can be heard several miles away at night. In addition to hooting, Great Horned Owls make a wide variety of other noises, including screams, growls, barks, coos, beak snapping, shrieks, and whistles. The Burrowing Owl makes a simple coo-coooo, coo-coooo sound.
Its important to note that owl sounds can vary greatly in rhythm, accents, and length of calls, and owls also perform beak snapping and hissing. The best time to hear owl sounds is at dawn and dusk, when their active periods briefly overlap with ours. If youre lucky enough to hear an owl, be sure to keep your distance and be respectful, as they can be sensitive to disturbance by curious humans.
