Sounds of the Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Shortcut: hoo hoohoo hoo hoo hoooo hoooo
Song: Series of five or more deep hoots, all on the same pitch: hoo hoohoo hoo hoo hoooo hoooohoo.
Call: Individual patterns vary and female hoots are higher pitched. A sharp, barking call is given when birds are alarmed. Calls of fledglings and immatures vary from hoarse and raspy to piercing whistles.
Bird songs copyright 2011 by Lang Elliott. Song descriptions adapted from the book Common Birds and Their Songs (Lang Elliott, 1998: Houghton Mifflin Company) and other material by Lang Elliott. Contact: Nature Sound Studio. Photographs copyright 2011 by Brian Small and Robert Royse. All rights reserved.
