Eastern Screech-Owl Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song (Northern)
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Maryland, December 06, 1998Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song (Northern)
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Maryland, July 23, 2000Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song (Northern)
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Florida, May 05, 1996Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller / Macaulay Library
Song (Northern)
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Maryland, July 19, 2019Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Illinois, August 07, 2019Recorded by Mark Vaughan / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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New York, May 26, 1952Recorded by Arthur A. Allen / Macaulay Library
Juvenile calls (Northern)
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New York, June 24, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song (McCall's)
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Texas, April 22, 1998Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library
Song (McCall's)
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Nuevo León, November 29, 1991Recorded by Andres M Sada / Macaulay Library
Calls (McCall's)
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Nuevo León, September 15, 1992Recorded by Andres M Sada / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Both males and females sing. Their most common sounds are an even-pitched trill, often called a “bounce song” or tremolo; and a shrill, descending whinny. The tremolo is used by pairs or families to keep in touch and is 3–6 seconds long. The whinny is 0.5–2 seconds long and is used to defend territories. These two songs may be given one after the other. Mated pairs may sing to each other antiphonally, both day and night.

Calls

Among the Eastern Screech-Owl’s many calls are soft, low hoots; loud, sharp barking calls that indicate alarm or agitation; and, true to their name, screeches—typically given by adults defending nests or fledglings. A three- or four-note chuckle or rattle denotes annoyance, as when a bird is being mobbed.