Coyotes are adaptable canids known for diverse vocalizations, often heard at night. They communicate through complex sounds, interacting with each other and their environment. Understanding their vocal repertoire offers insight into social behaviors and ecological roles.
The Coyote’s Vocal Repertoire
Coyotes produce various sounds: barks, yips, howls, growls, whines, and screams. Their scientific name, Canis latrans, translates to “barking dog.” A coyote’s bark often sounds similar to a domestic dog’s, though it can be higher pitched. These barks can be short and sharp, or part of a bark-howl, a combination beginning with barking and transitioning into a howl.
Yips are high-pitched, short vocalizations often accompanying howls. They convey excitement, playfulness, or anxiety, heard during social interactions. Howls are perhaps the most iconic coyote sound, characterized by wavering quality and rapid pitch changes. Unlike a wolf’s, a coyote’s howl incorporates many pitches and inflections, creating a complex “song.”
Coyotes also growl, indicating aggression or defensiveness. Whines are submissive vocalizations, for deference or by pups to seek attention. In situations of distress or fear, coyotes may produce yelps or screams.
Why Coyotes Vocalize
Coyotes vocalize for various communicative functions. Howls are a primary form of long-distance communication, used to locate pack members, maintain group contact, or reunite with separated members. They also serve as a territorial display, establishing boundaries and warning other coyotes away. This vocal marking creates an “auditory fence” around their territory.
Barks act as warning signals, alerting others to potential danger, such as intruders. A single, sharp bark indicates a mild alert, while rapid, aggressive barking signifies territorial defense. Bark-howls are a more serious warning, meant to intimidate a perceived threat.
Yipping and yelping are associated with social bonding and excitement during pack reunions or when pups are playing. These sounds can also indicate distress or submission. Growls are used as close-range threats, while whines express submission or a need for attention from pups to their mothers.
Common Misinterpretations of Coyote Sounds
Common beliefs about coyote vocalizations often misunderstand them. One misconception: coyotes howl at the moon. While more vocal at night due to increased activity, their howling is not lunar-influenced; instead, it serves as communication with other coyotes. Darker nights can increase vocalization, as sound becomes a more important communication tool when visibility is low.
Another misinterpretation is believing a large pack of coyotes is present when only a few are vocalizing. This “beau geste effect” occurs because a small number of coyotes can produce a wide variety of sounds, creating the illusion of many more animals. Researchers have found that people often overestimate the number of coyotes they hear by nearly two-fold.
The idea that howling signifies a recent kill is inaccurate. Coyotes hunt alone or in pairs; vocalizing after a kill would attract other predators or scavengers. Their barks are not solely aggressive; they can be warnings, alarms, or establish territory. While coyote barks can sound similar to domestic dog barks, coyote vocalizations often incorporate yips and howls that distinguish them from typical dog sounds.