[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Great Horned Owl calls




>
>One was my trusty old Peterson, which said of the GHO's call:  "A resonant
>hooting of 3 to 8 hoots.  Male usually 4 or 5, in this rhythm:  Hoo,
>hoo-oo, hoo, hoo.  Female lower in pitch, 6 to 8, Hoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo-oo,
>hoo-oo."
>
>The other was Donald & Lillian Stokes' Guide to Bird Behavior Vol III,
>which said:  "A series of four or five deliberate, deep, resonant hoots.
>Given in various rhythms by different individuals.  Female hoots are
>shorter and higher-pitched than those of the male, even though she is a
>larger bird."

"The Great Horned Owl" in "The Birds of North America" by Houston, Smith, 
and Rohner (1998) cites Miller (1934):

"Female vocalizations are higher in pitch because of smaller syrinx in the 
larger sex."

The sonograms in this article show clearly that males have lower pitched 
calls than females.

So who's who?

Norm

*******************************************************************
Norman Budnitz		919-684-3592 (day)
nbudnitz@duke.edu		919-383-0553 (eve)
				919-684-6168 (fax)

Dept of Zoology, Duke University, Box 90325, Durham NC 27708-0325 (work)	
4115 Garrett Drive, Durham NC 27705-8005 (home)

PROGRESS: the victory of laughter over dogma.
(Tom Robbins, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas)