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Great Horned Owl calls



Until the recent discussion on Carolinabirds of the calls of Great Horned
Owls, I had never given a thought to whether male and female could be
distinguished by call.  So I plunged into my reference collection of a
dozen or so books and found just two that mentioned a difference.

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."

Ah, well, you pays your money and you takes your choice.  What a hoot.

Len Pardue, Asheville, NC