Many believe owls are exclusively nocturnal and silent during the day. This is a misconception. Owls do make noise during daylight hours, and hearing their calls when the sun is up is not unusual. While many species are predominantly nocturnal, various circumstances and natural behaviors lead them to vocalize at any time.
Understanding Owl Activity
While the image of a nocturnal owl is widespread, not all owl species adhere strictly to nighttime activity. Many are primarily nocturnal, hunting in darkness and resting during the day. However, a significant number are crepuscular, most active during twilight hours. Some owls are even diurnal, actively hunting and moving about during the day.
Examples of owls frequently active in daylight include the Northern Hawk Owl, Burrowing Owl, and Short-eared Owl. The Northern Hawk Owl, for instance, hunts and vocalizes frequently during the day. Burrowing Owls, often found in open country, are also active throughout the day. Even species typically considered nocturnal, like the Great Horned Owl or Snowy Owl, can exhibit crepuscular or cathemeral (active both day and night) patterns.
Reasons for Daytime Vocalizations
Owls vocalize during the day for several reasons, reflecting aspects of their behavior and life cycle. One primary reason is territorial defense. Owls are highly territorial, and both males and females use calls to warn other owls or potential predators away from their claimed areas. This display of dominance can occur at any time.
Mating calls are another common reason for daytime vocalizations, especially during the breeding season. Owls become more vocal to attract mates, and this increased communication can extend into daylight hours as pairs establish bonds. Males often call from their territory, waiting for a female to respond.
Communication with young also prompts daytime noise. Parent owls use hoots to keep track of their owlets and warn them of dangers. Young owlets, in turn, may loudly beg for food with screeches, prompting parents to respond with reassuring calls as they bring food. These interactions are crucial for the development and survival of the young.
Owls may also vocalize due to distress or alarm. If an owl perceives a threat, such as a hawk, snake, or human presence, it might emit calls to signal danger to other owls or to deter the threat. These alarm calls convey that the owl is aware of the predator and prepared to defend itself or its nest.
Identifying Daytime Owl Calls
Recognizing daytime owl calls involves familiarity with the diverse sounds these birds produce beyond the typical hoot. Owls use a variety of vocalizations, including hoots, screeches, hisses, barks, whistles, and even clucking or rattling sounds. The specific sound often depends on the species and the context of the communication.
For instance, the Barred Owl is known for its distinctive 8-9 note hooting call, often interpreted as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?”. This call can be heard day or night, particularly when defending their territory. Great Horned Owls produce deep, soft hoots with a stuttering rhythm, which males use to advertise territories. Young Great Horned Owls often give piercing screams when begging for food.
Northern Hawk Owls are known for a rapid, rolling whistle for mating calls, alongside screeches and sharp chips for alarm. Their calls are suited to their active daytime lifestyle. Burrowing Owls, while not always highly vocal, produce a quail-like two-note cooing sound, especially males during mating and territorial defense. They can also make a hissing sound that mimics a rattlesnake, used as a defensive mechanism to deter predators from their burrows. Eastern Screech-Owls might be heard during the day making a whinny or a trill.