The Ultimate Guide to Identifying Owls by Their Calls

Owls are some of the most fascinating and mysterious birds in the world. As nocturnal hunters, they are more often heard than seen, making their calls the best way to identify them. Each species has a unique vocal repertoire, used for attracting mates, defending territory, and communicating with its young. Learning to distinguish these sounds can transform your experience of the natural world after dark.

This guide will introduce you to the most common owl calls and give you the tools to identify these elusive birds in your own backyard or local woods.

The Best Time to Listen

While owls can be heard year-round, their calls are most frequent during late fall and winter. This is their prime mating and nesting season, and males are at their most vocal as they claim territory and seek out a partner. Listening at dusk and dawn is a good strategy, as these times mark the beginning and end of their active hunting periods

Common Owl Calls by Species

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl is the most widely recognized owl in North America, and its call is the classic sound often used in movies and television.

Call: A deep, resonant series of hoots. The most common pattern is "Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooo-hoo," often interpreted as "Who's awake? Me too."

Barred Owl

This owl is known for its distinct and often comical call, which is easy to remember.

Call: A series of eight hoots with a very specific cadence, sounding like the phrase "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"

Notes: This call is one of the most reliable for identification. Barred Owls are also known to call during the day, which can sometimes startle people.

Eastern Screech-Owl

Despite its name, this small owl does not actually screech. It has two main calls that are quite memorable.

Call: One call is a descending, trilling whinny, similar to a horse's whinny. The other is a monotonic, quavering trill.

Notes: These tiny owls can be found in urban and suburban areas and their calls are often surprisingly loud for their size.

Barn Owl

The call of a Barn Owl is quite different from the traditional hoot of other owls.

Call: A blood-curdling, high-pitched shriek or screech. The sound is often described as eerie or ghostly.

Notes: This startling sound is most commonly heard during the breeding season and is one of the easiest ways to identify a Barn Owl.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

This small, secretive owl is named for its call, which sounds like the whetting of a saw on a stone.

Call: A monotonous, high-pitched "toot-toot-toot" that is repeated consistently for long periods.

Use a Birding App: Apps like Merlin Bird ID can listen to and identify bird calls in real-time, providing an excellent tool for beginners.

Listen for Context: Consider the time of year, time of day, and habitat. Are you in a dense forest, a field, or an urban park? This can help narrow down the possibilities. Beware of Look-Alikes: Some non-owl birds, like the Mourning Dove, have calls that can be mistaken for owls. The Mourning Dove's soft "coo-coo-coo" is often confused with an owl's hoot.