Owl watching tips: How to learn 10 common owl calls

By Cheri Sicard
Owls are often heard before they’re seen. For birders in the Eastern U.S., knowing the sounds can turn a quiet night into a wildlife highlight.

The video at the end of this post from Badgerland Birding covers common calls, how to remember them, and simple clues to help confirm what is calling nearby. Knowing these common calls adds a new layer to any evening walk. From the Great Horned’s steady hoots to the Barn Owl’s piercing scream, each voice tells a story.

Why listen for owl calls at night?

Owls can be secretive, but many call often, especially in winter as pairs form. In many neighborhoods, Great Horned Owls hoot after dark. When one calls, pause and listen for a second bird answering from a distance.

Here are the owls covered in the video:

#1 Great Horned Owl: This large, widespread owl gives a deep “who who ho who,” often in a back-and-forth pattern. It calls often in winter, and a pair may duet from separate perches. A bulky silhouette with tall ear tufts is a strong clue. Look for a big shape with two tall ear tufts at dusk or at night. If one hoots nearby, listen for a response.

#2 Barred Owl: Common in thicker woods, the Barred Owl gives the memorable “who cooks for you” hoot and sometimes a longer “who cooks for you all.” Beyond hoots, it also breaks into wild, chattering calls that can sound almost primate-like. Search denser forests and river bottom woods areas.

#3 Eastern Screech-Owl: Small but common, screech-owls often roost in cavities or nest boxes. They give two main calls: a descending whinny that sounds like a tiny horse, and a steady trill. The trill can even carry in daylight from a shady roost. To find screech-owls, check nest boxes or cavity trees near sunset. Woodlots and parks with mature trees are great spots.

#4 Northern Saw-whet Owl: This tiny owl can be tough to spot unless it is roosting low. Its main call is a rapid, metronome-like “two two two” that carries far on calm nights. Once heard, it is hard to mistake. That rapid rhythm is the giveaway. Scan low branches for a compact, still bird.

#5 Barn Owl: Barn Owls can be scarce in some regions, but no bird screams like they do. The call is a long, eerie screech that has fueled ghost stories. Young Barn Owls look unusual, which adds to the lore. The scream is long and harsh, not a hoot. Look in open areas, barns, and grasslands.

#6 Long-eared Owl: Long-eared Owls give spaced, low “who” notes, like quiet pulses in the night. They often roost in groups, so hearing several calls near each other is common in winter roost areas. Listen for multiple, evenly spaced hoots. Try looking around conifer stands or thickets near fields.

#7 Short-eared Owl: Short-eared Owls hunt low over fields at dusk, sometimes alongside Northern Harriers. They give raspy barking calls, and at times a series of low hoots. Migration watch sites near big lakes, like Lake Michigan, can be good for hearing them pass. Look for a flatter face in buoyant flight over open fields near dark.

#8 Snowy Owl: Snowy Owls rarely call on wintering grounds, but when they do it can be a gruff, raspy “crra.” Most visual encounters are on open shorelines, fields, and airports.

#9 Juvenile owls: Young owls can give calls that resemble a softer version of a Barn Owl scream. Many backyard “ghost” sounds turn out to be juvenile Great Horned or Barred Owls begging. The tone is less shrieky than a Barn Owl. Check which species is common locally.

#10 Mourning Doves – Not an owl:  Mourning Doves make soft, hooting-like “coos” that many people mistake for an owl. Doves call in daylight more often, while most owls peak at night.

Dove vs. owl quick guide:

• Dove: Gentle cooing, common by day.
• Owl: Hoots, trills, barks, mostly at night.

Rarer owls to watch for

Great Gray, Boreal, and Northern Hawk Owls usually stay farther north, but some wander into the Eastern U.S.

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