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Global Animal Guide

Owl sounds: identification guide

Not every owl hoots — some screech, whinny, or bounce. Learn the calls of great horned, barn, tawny, and screech owls across the US and UK.

Great horned owls give deep five-note hoots; barn owls shriek rather than hoot; tawny owls (UK) call a rhythmic 'hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo'; screech owls whinny like a horse (eastern US) or bounce 'po-po-po' (western US). Listen for pitch, rhythm, and habitat — woodland hoots differ from open-field screams.

Quick ID by ear

  1. Note the time of night: Tawny owls call mainly at dusk; great horned owls hoot from early evening; screech owls whinny after dark.
  2. Count the syllables: Four to five low hoots suggest great horned; a single drawn-out screech points to barn owl; rhythmic 'hoo-hoo' pairs fit tawny owl.
  3. Listen for rhythm and pitch: Great horned hoots are deep and spaced; barn owl screams are piercing and unbroken; screech owl whinnies rise and fall like a horse.
  4. Check the habitat: Woodland edges favour great horned and tawny; open farmland suits barn owls; suburban trees host screech owls.
  5. Record and compare: Use a phone voice memo from indoors and compare to species profiles below — wind and distance distort live impressions.

Common owl calls — US and UK

Great horned owl with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes perched in a forest at dusk

Great Horned Owl

North America

Bubo virginianus

Sound
Deep, resonant 'hoo-hoo-hoo HOO-HOO' — five syllables with the last two louder; also bill snaps and hisses when threatened
When
Year-round; most vocal October–December during courtship and territory defence
Habitat
Woodland, parks, and suburban edges from Alaska to South America
ID tip
The classic Hollywood owl hoot — low enough to carry through forest
Listen

Listen: great horned owl hoot (Wikimedia Commons)

Barn owl with a heart-shaped white face perched on a wooden post at dusk

Barn Owl

US, UK, and worldwide

Tyto alba

Sound
Long, harsh screech or shriek — not a hoot at all; also hisses and snores at the nest
When
Year-round; screeches most at dusk and on moonlit nights while hunting
Habitat
Open farmland, marshes, and barns — hunts low over fields
ID tip
That eerie night scream over fields is almost always a barn owl, not a fox
Listen

Listen: barn owl screech (Wikimedia Commons)

Tawny Owl

United Kingdom and Europe

Strix aluco

Sound
Familiar 'hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo' — a rhythmic two-syllable call; also sharp 'kewick' contact notes
When
Year-round; autumn territorial calling peaks September–November
Habitat
Deciduous and mixed woodland, parks, and large gardens across Britain
ID tip
The owl of English literature — male hoots, female answers with a sharper kewick

Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern US

Megascops asio

Sound
Descending whinny like a horse — a trembling trill that drops in pitch; also a monotone trill on one note
When
Year-round; whinnies most in late winter and spring during breeding season
Habitat
Suburban trees, orchards, and woodland edges east of the Rockies
ID tip
Small owl, big voice — the whinny is unmistakable once heard

Western Screech Owl

Western US

Megascops kennicottii

Sound
Rhythmic bouncing ball series — 'po-po-po-po-po' accelerating then slowing; softer than the eastern whinny
When
Year-round; calls most at night from February through May
Habitat
Riparian woodland, deserts with saguaro, and suburban parks in the West
ID tip
Do not expect a screech — the bouncing-ball call surprises most listeners

Sounds that mimic owls

  • Fox scream vs barn owl: Both pierce the night, but fox screams are shorter and more variable; barn owl shrieks are longer and more consistent in pitch.
  • Dove coo vs owl hoot: Mourning doves coo softly at dawn; owl hoots are deeper, slower, and come after dark.
  • Frog vs screech owl: Some tree frogs trill on one note; screech owl whinnies descend in pitch like a horse.

Supporting owls near you

Leave dead standing trees where safe, avoid rodent poisons that accumulate in owl prey, and keep outdoor lights dim — excessive lighting reduces the hunting success of barn owls over fields. Nest boxes sized for screech owls or barn owls can attract breeding pairs where natural cavities are scarce.

Owl sounds: FAQs

What owl makes a screeching sound at night?

In both the US and UK, the barn owl is the classic night screecher — a long, harsh, piercing shriek quite unlike the hooting most people expect. In eastern North America, eastern screech owls also make a whinnying trill that can sound unsettling but is not a scream.

What does a great horned owl sound like?

Great horned owls produce a deep, slow series of four to five hoots — 'hoo-hoo-hoo HOO-HOO' — with the final notes loudest. The call carries well through woodland and is often heard on calm autumn and winter nights across North America.

What owl hoots in UK gardens?

The tawny owl is the familiar British hooter — a rhythmic 'hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo' heard from woodland and parkland after dark. Little owls give a short yelping call but hoot less prominently. Barn owls screech rather than hoot.

Why do owls call at night?

Owls call to defend territory, attract mates, and communicate with their partner. Calling peaks during courtship — autumn for tawny owls, late winter for great horned and screech owls. Hearing an owl does not mean danger; it means healthy habitat nearby.

Can I tell screech owl species apart by ear?

Yes, in most cases. Eastern screech owls whinny — a descending horse-like trill. Western screech owls bounce — a rhythmic 'po-po-po' series that speeds up then slows. Both also give monotone trills, but the whinny versus bounce distinction is reliable where ranges overlap in the Southwest.

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Sources & references

Identification marks and calls are compiled from established field guides and ornithological references for temperate regions worldwide.

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