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

Re: Owls calling in the night?



Anne:
Your owl sounds seem very similar as those noted for the Great Horned Owl, in 
the new Sibley Guide to Birds - a wonderful Christmas gift from my Raleigh, 
NC daughter!!  While this book is fairly large in size and probably much too 
large to be carried as a field guide, it has magnificent variations of each 
bird, along with their unique sounds.  Also, has a range map pictured with 
each bird, and the Great Horned Owl is shown to inhabit the entire U.S.!!  
Whereas, the Great Gray Owl is shown only in the upper portions of North 
America, as you mentioned. 

Where their 'normal' 'song' is described as being a deep, muffled hooting in 
rhythmic series "hoo hoodoo hoooo hoo" or longer "ho hoo hoo hoododo hooooo 
hoo", Sibley goes on to say that the juneniles beg with high, wheezy, 
scratchy, or horse bark "reeeek" or "sheew" or "cheeoip" -- could the "
cheeoip" sound be the "Shee-yute" sound you described?

You are so fortunate to have owls around!!  I really miss being in my native 
state!!!

Betty Garmon
Decatur  AL 
(Transplanted from N.C.!!)