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Re: Great Horned Owls courting



Mary Myers wrote:

> We always have GHOwls calling in the fall and winter.  How do you tell the
> male from the female call and how do you know that they are courting?
>
> \\    ~
>  \\_(o>
>   (   )        Mary Myers
>   ^ ^   Charleston, SC
> mmyers@nations.net
>
> ----------
> > From: Donna S. Bailey <dsbailey@conterra.com>
> > To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
> > Subject: Great Horned Owls courting
> > Date: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 8:45 PM
> >
> >
> > I stepped outside just after full darkness tonight in hopes of hearing
> some
> > owls.  I was rewarded for my efforts by the calling of a pair of Great
> > Horned Owls.  The male was hooting regularly and was answered once by a
> more
> > distant female.  Just before I came in, a Barred Owl sounded off.
> >
> > While it is probably just coincidence, every time that I have heard the
> > Great Horneds courting is in the midst of one of our infrequent cold
> snaps.
> > Does the falling thermometer make the testosterone rise for Great Horned
> Owls?
> >
> > Donna Bailey
> > Winnsboro, SC
> > e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
> > URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
> >      "Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina"
> > URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey/audubon
> >     "Columbia Audubon Society"
> >

Mary and all;
I don't think they are actually courting, just maintaining the pair. The
male's call is much shorter than the female. His call is hoo-hoo  hoo HOO uhh.
The female's is eight syllables long.


--
Alex Netherton
The Appalachian Naturalist
Asheville, NC
http://www.appalachian-naturalist.com
mailto:alex@appalachian-naturalist.com

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