Why Do Owls Hoot?

Owls are associated with a variety of good and bad things, and their behavior remains a mystery for animal lovers. So, our topic today is: Why do owls hoot? Is it an illusion when you hear them hoot during the day? What does the sound indicate?

Without further ado, let’s uncover the secrets behind these intriguing creatures!

7 Reasons To Explain Why Owls Hoot At Night

The main reason owls hoot is a show of territorial instinct. As with every kind of animal, including humans, making sounds is for communication, and owls do it to send signals to other owls that they have claimed a certain area.

Owls don’t tend to build a nest, so they will find one made by other birds and make themselves the new owner. Therefore, they need the hoot to warn other owls that this nest is no longer available. The habit is more commonly seen in males.

However, owls also hoot for other reasons. We will guide you through them now.

For Courtship

When an owl finds a nest, it might start trying to find a mate, especially if the courtship season has arrived. Just like humans, even owls have a better chance of finding a mate if they can guarantee basic needs in life.

On the other hand, the hoots might well be to keep the potential rivals out of the way. This hoot of courtship is a bit small, low-pitched from males, and a bit higher from females.

To Solidify Their Pair-Bond

As a couple, the owls will claim the territory together and synchronize their hoots. And the fun begins here!

The female owl will start the ritual and give a few hoots before waiting for the male to respond. Male owls are usually smaller, but they have a low-pitched voice that is very easy to notice.

An owl couple can hoot in sync for about an hour. As they get more engrossed in it, the intervals between their turns to hoot will decrease, until they truly hoot together. They bond for weeks and only stop when they have the first egg.

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Threatened Or Surprised Owls Hoot

We let out our surprised noises when we see unexpected things, and so do owls. If they spot anything that might threaten their nest or their life, they will emit a small, low-pitched hoot. For your information, it might sound a bit like a bark or a growl too.

By making that noise, the owls are trying to scare off the possible disturbance or threat. It sounds a little deeper than usual, almost like a snarl and possibly coupled with beak noises. It won’t stop until they feel that the threat is gone.

To Defense

Since owls hoot when they are surprised, you can expect them to hoot when under attack too.

Owls tend to screech and shriek loudly as they start an attack. They typically won’t stop until the attacker gives up or loses the fight. With that said, it might be a fight for territory or survival.

To Communicate With Other Owls

Aside from the mentioned purposes, owls might hoot simply to communicate with others, just like how we strike up a conversation.

If you hear owls hoot at night a bit intensely, perhaps they are just calling out for one another. However, the noises they make can be quite intense, not too different from a woman screaming.

For Hunting

The rare owl species that are active before night falls can use some light for their hunt and hoot as a trick to get to the prey more easily.

When owls spot tasty prey in a rather tricky spot, they might hoot to scare the poor thing and make it move for an easier catch.

Check more: Do Owls Have Any Predators?

More Facts About Owl Hooting

Owls typically don’t hoot during the day, save for a few exceptions. The most well-known species is the Snowy Owl, the individuals of which show diurnal behaviors in harsh weather conditions when darkness is predominant.

Owls are silent when they hunt, which makes them such great hunters. If you hear short, low hoots from them while they fight, it might be a sign that they consider the opponent strong and dangerous.

The Takeaways

Next time you hear owls hoot at night, you will know they are being productive and not trying to stir a ruckus! They might be fighting for a nest, attracting a potential mate, defending against a predator, or simply communicating.

The pitch and the length of an owl’s hoots will tell you what they are trying to do if you keep your eyes (ears!) on them long enough to distinguish the sounds. So are you ready for the challenge?