Barred Owl (5.30 am,Sep, Mount Desert Island, ME).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiX_J5t_IB6tXVW7dzziGlEuKGdnU35UDHNPy0A0a7gWGDNmwcf9kWvb4OpcRYI5LhwmCgMwqhV-0T7Fi0byOMzwCjmD8ZzjE-ZK1Tpk_oVBNggNcmV1MRf7664kH9ifVdjEOMeyDO_yf/s320/BARRED+OWL+SW+Harbor+9209+%25282%2529.wav.png)
Pair calling (May, PA)
Barred Owl, screech by presumed juvenile (5.15 am,Sep, Mount Desert Island, ME).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bxkZIcsxNFOcw8j4iNymmj6imOofhKqSH55QB8IQo4-3GH9UcX4ge1Q4-0JAi7k5boKoFRkHv96p0-V0t_oAwWNt7CxRLPHsDvsfarG8byZnt5rL3mUSX-fLI4qgJlFtqPw6QQH6Otgu/s320/BARRED+OWL+juvenile+SW+Harbor+ME+9109.wav.png)
This call is quite similar to calls made by other owl species, for example the alarm call of an adult Northern Hawk Owl (June, AK).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pvzGJEeh59K8zXulYq5jeSVbf2ScKrCZG23SUIj0ANGqEpvSzv-UOP_Potws6ClcfexghJ399cxu42H7NSJdngkfM0eryLM1w9EkPJC8Wk91CidUlDNQcZOmVVTdN6IPlbKQQP2y6rA9/s320/NORTHERN+HAWK-OWL+sceeech+Dalton+Highway+AK+61308.wav.png)
As with other owl species, Barred Owls have a varied repertoire, which can sometimes make identification uncertain. The whine vocalization is somewhat similar to that of the saw-whet owl (Oct, PA).
A pair of Great Horned Owls calling to each other shortly after dusk (Nov, PA). The begging call of young birds is a shriek, and a similar call is used by adults during the period of pair-bonding prior to the breeding season.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0-Y67BShtAZWhFF4fgFNrKEFwBSZkX0PFY4aa0goQ1YAjIf5ZJ0lWpSss7Fp2jF8MP6V3GPP_Vjfe7Dp90U7mtLLYhQ-MbRHFV68KuTyuqIdAXf3C5H1CH8BunPUN9PX3Za43dw0Jp5q/s320/GREAT+HORNED+OWL+PERT,+PA+110709.wav.png)
Another bird with a similar, but different, shriek (near dawn, Nov, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscTM9OOuOSRJIUSWDjt35DQnbwW8aHb3nRlT3OQPoNewoqeQRRdb7BQ7nn0m5dVnN0BYvy2Ntq3CO0Zf2dPLICmI2sCzs2cNUZpVIR5x2skxSEizSDVjk76-xrnRcGwph9zLuVbsPqS_A/s320/GREAT+HORNED+OWL+shriek+PERT+PA+110710.WAV.png)
A higher shriek with bill snapping and chitter call at 15s (5.30am, Oct, PA)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwD2WPPzdXIr4oyNGp_eEHX0esI9b2XsKhndS0JBpmlXJummurgNRrZITiHm2ZN9JWW9Tim2_sp4NCkhJJONckBia3vixz1Nau8r7R3sM2O6_UAntKwWKW83MolULvnJNUmyY7-qa0Jre/s320/GREAT+HORNED+OWL+shriek+and+chirping+5.30am+PERT+PA+10222012+%25282%2529.mp3.png)
Great Horned Owl pair duetting, the presumed female call (first and third calls) is higher, and the presumed male call lower (Nov, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI4tU4m-8ZMXWu6-zDgfrmNGvy2NV9qF_q-BzcWlliJYuhJ1rvcZB-Fpc4aWj8ow-N4o75u6ReO70UM7P4YryUYUc9Jb-huO5Nxq73i9qnRME3K1XhtNzCFH46vm3732QKPmSt2YKVesZ/s320/GREAT-HORNED+OWL+f+duet+5.15am+PERT+PA+110710.wav.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgI9t6RwH9JzXJR8bkoQA2dgcBlNekY9XRDGXoqgrnMo7ii-XvPyWqzhmQaPwoIOj5Aa-slmLkdQ9CM890FJT_6Id_g-H7JuJH-yDbVtBTXW4ZnISjCxW184tGCmyVCr4FcKozmlVNjpr/s320/GREAT-HORNED+OWL+m+duet+5.15am+PERT+PA+110710.wav.png)
Great Horned Owl barking shortly before dawn. Shortly after barking for a couple of minutes, it began hooting (Oct, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS8INw-pQLyUOEURaHqNl7TNR1ijNVcr4mLfpoYgAy4qMLCYDSuHDQ1aZvwuwXx3p07IaQ0UzEZk1axN7vquV91l1xwpReMbqVmPELBvc4C4m5B8mGHzNLcjI9KJ3LC4-LFLhrTzn-OzB/s320/GREAT+HORNED+OWL+bark+PERT+PA+100310.WAV.png)
Long-eared Owls hooting and mewing shortly after sunset. This was a group of at least five birds that roosted in a mesquite thicket, returning quietly as it became light in the morning (I observed them at dawn on three mornings). I visited once at dusk and the birds were more vocal then than at dawn, but the calling only lasted a few minutes.
Two birds (presumed males) hooting (6.00pm, Feb, NV)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm_0Ze-l4F0rPF0Zioa8gCYj0WiS4yjg34UfgqEFkpG2sYy8jgseSP7UXoZiGDTLVfznXtfA0VKagok-8b7RI8eQdMxUIA2uQsUXU0LbEyya6H238c4ZB4jBqQ8HMhkojDNLbmqom7nSR/s1600/LONG-EARED+OWL+hoot+Las+Vegas+NV+5.59pm+022013+(2).mp3.png)
Hooting and mew-like (alarm?) calls
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihykjAiRS_9i0mQBHNoFnJ5VIj0X4Zb_Rop-_tET4dG5OocdMyK4Xx7_WQ0hBT23OxDFCR0yYiDtjA4W0tBeaRAKV11DxgV9dgQCs5IYOEwU91H3lHgeEyqbXA-kDJCRgEmnymYfOvi87F/s1600/LONG-EARED+OWL++mew++Las+Vegas+NV+5.59pm+022013+(2).mp3.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESwRjanpV9cAXJPPZtm11YXsYQPxpcnLu9Lj7ia43sMStnMd3H74rI_BSGpczky7Cou30LNoUpCt58M6-AvogOF2vxTGwKTI5cLJGH4rRlJLSohgfXSJYoHBUlTsgtGHnhpioaY483tqU/s1600/LONG-EARED+OWL++mew1++Las+Vegas+NV+5.59pm+022013+(2).mp3.png)
Northern Saw-whet Owl whine (5.30am, Dec, PA). A short series of spontaneous whines were heard initially which appeared to coincide with calls by a pair of Great Horned Owls that hooted briefly nearby. I played back a similar call and obtained this recording, preceded by a chitter. Then two small owls flew over my head in the darkness. Habitat was deciduous woodland with a dense understory of multiflora rose, not far from an open scrubby area.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqI4XeXK_o5Yn30JdHu5EP9_Gz2JA5WhZ-4QJhQsQ1c7isI0RiQbvEzVaK9bFpqyciE9ehuH9kwawRAiTU5Zu8vgMYd4EVeQDuVQYcl6FWz9jEXGqiHSBT6GNJwv6Jer1wqyNSGmcnadp/s320/NORTHERN+SAW-WHET+OWL+PERT+PA+5.30am+12152012.png)
Same location, probably the same bird, briefly responding to playback of tooting (12.10am, Feb).
Ksew calls by same bird
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcODMY9c4uL8Upz6ZX_O3BPBAN4-305btmwBsh1Q8dkX_yKNGx4ugpDlgFl3L_wbaf2WgAEWTgQ7ITQdcNwlLN3V6aBwu6EiUnsbEKpNBpxsXk9MFyElhb9a2pSauQkTXFKLUOqh621yw/s320/NORTHERN+SAW-WHET+OWL+PERT+PA+12.10am+02282013.mp3.png)
Ksew (Oct, PA)
This is the "skiew" call, made in this case in response to a dog barking, a call that is probably the sound that gave the bird its name (Scott Weidensaul pers. comm.)(Jan, PA).
Note though that the Eastern Screech-Owl has a similar call (Aug, PA).
Saw-whet whines in response to playback. Compared to the Eastern Screech-Owl wail, the whine is emphatic vs the somewhat plaintive screech-owl call, usually has prominent harmonics, and rises especially at the end (6.50am, Nov, PA).
(Oct, 6.27am, PA)
Compare with the Eastern Screech-Owl wail (Aug, PA)
Probable Eastern Screech-Owl wail. It is similar to the saw-whet call, but there is a slight wavering not heard in Northern Saw-whet Owl whine (Scott Weidensaul pers comm.). Eastern Screech-Owl wails usually lack harmonics and tend not to rise at the end. This recording is interesting in that it appears the owl is reacting to a flyover Green Heron (12.21am, Sep, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQBdgv8ilr1m0gXrGeRT1yKpDZDN7QFVWA_GUll50c9vHUqZdl8ZrakN1Rpv8-BxSB9vHz5OsFl_KA_t-5GKVdpMViodNIkwd_wKNi5i5P7P9c6hkeUHGEnTrk122sGhUQbONNQPAyWd3/s320/EASOpres+with+GRHE+12.21am+09232013+Elkins+ParkPA.png)
Another example (Sep, PA).
Eastern Screech-Owl tremolo, used in courtship (1.00 am, Jan, DE)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET90BWm44pTBdTcoupHaggdhD39S9Mp5HMrcpTNVMMrp9sksY15_KB-C1COxyvMXnVwTuKlYLxLx-5BGDQRQuqcnI5gEAJRwLYHgqRBCrCEgzJcxKV1y8Jy30IKbJ7fKNJ2kcTFL6XX6M/s320/EASTERN+SCREECH-OWL+tremolo+Bombay+Hook+DE+1.06am+01132013.WAV.png)
Eastern Screech-Owl whinny, used to defend territory (Dec, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlaxhhbYp7p43DEbNGVNtuWweO2yhBpNu5p7FGc8lV7-Gx9TWcJznrfhrt3MN_oOBi6OIkpzkwRd9darX25zonKQXnhd3VI_aKHZ5AjkNelMPErMVMIHtr53exW4ghCZ5CsGCVcqpj8c1/s320/EASTERN+SCREECH-OWL+PERT+PA+121810.WAV.png)
Eastern Screech-Owl kew, with bill-snapping (5.15am, Aug, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TzmPomsP6-n4IMEOQ6EuWWTD7v6EkaEKcGmDhroesdT52saRkvhzFAYPxPE9Xo7vFoIsdMsu5XscYLJK0YvrQFl3ToDLD3-jMZjzEIBFB8YW6TI9-biQB47Dyv9w0sdpry0IHQ2pq5OJ/s320/EASO+screech+Elkins+Park+PA+05.15am+08162013.WAV.png)
Adult at dusk calling in the vicinity of a calling fledgling. Note the similarity to the saw-whet owl ksew (8.30pm, May, PA).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9460QKbzuQ9pyig7IHDQow4U0-3KdJKGczvUoIXjdCmV5Puq9KQreZsP9YV8tnJgRrFAPMZg26Edp0vcoCqytTS78o3raR2mSetymWwyEFU7utW4RsQ-iYNqCSr6Dp4hFN37nobdX2EM/s320/EASTERN+SCREECH-OWL+ad+PERT+PA+8.30pm+05242016.WAV.png)
Similar calls (Aug, PA).
Juvenile calls
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZpqYacHNmhaN1oCdJ1U7Je3-qEyyErnUWn5tfpQkbdlSuA9xhABs9TZVJDf1tE0ETcdu-O7KYOetM23-Pc5nvbK5bEe6CKF4YIV8CXWlJATe8VYHqzNDYxcvK4913TG-VeOlkFQeYhZr/s320/EASTERN+SCREECH-OWL1+imm+PERT+PA+8.22pm+05242016.WAV.png)
The Barn Owl call is a shriek (poor recording, over saltmarsh at dusk, Apr, NJ)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3Kbg6uDbZVjAVmNYvJe5Wyi1_Zgdk9uFbJkY_vgNvxYQA5sDZABl3-2qiyOu4UGpiGDvkKE0C7GjezcnEvGSNg4AcZc_FA7yaCtfSfmgnCQs4hBLZOyEZgtM09kfoox2V4_NfhhzCZO2/s320/BARN+OWL+Gandy%2527s+Beach%252C+NJ+42309.mp3.png)
2 comments:
These are terrific! I love the inclusion of the sonagrams! Thank you for posting.
Wow! Amazing Blog you have! I was able to identify our mystery creature, a Barred owl. Thanks so much!
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