What’s that noise in the backyard tonight? Who’s out there?
In autumn in Pennsylvania, great horned owls (Bubo viginianus) call to establish territory and court their mates. Their family time is coming soon. She’ll lay eggs before any other raptor species, sometimes as early as December.
Listen for their 5-note syncopated call: “hu-hu-Hoo HOO HOO“
If you’re lucky you’ll hear them “sing” a duet. (Turn up your speakers to hear both birds in this recording. The male’s voice is the lower one.)
Anywhere you live in North America, if there are woods or fields nearby great horned owls are there year round.
Sometimes they make very odd noises.
Whooo’s out there?
‘Tis the season for great horned owls.
(photo by Alan Wolf via Flickr, Creative Commons license, audio from Xeno Canto, click on the captions to hear the originals.)
What a coincidence! I saw one this morning flying through the back yard, carrying something large. I heard it calling at dawn a few days ago.
Strangest call of all is the blood-curdling scream juvenile Great-horneds make. It’ll scare the daylights out of anyone! I’ve heard it!
Rob, how about this barn owl? I think they sound blood curdling! https://www.xeno-canto.org/186611
Totally great article, Kate. Thanks so much!
Heard a Great Horned owl at 0445 in my Beechview neighborhood, first time here. Screech owls have been common but I wonder if the “big guys” will push them away.
Denise, the screech-owls are wary of great horned owls. The great horned owls sometimes eat them.