The startling sound of a bloodcurdling shriek piercing the silence of the night is a common source of nocturnal anxiety. Many people who search for the source of this unsettling noise are surprised to find that the culprit is often a bird, not a person or a large mammal. The question of whether an owl could be responsible for a sound so eerily similar to a human scream has a very specific answer in the world of ornithology. The familiar “hoot” of an owl is only one small part of the vocal repertoire used by the over 200 species of these nocturnal predators.
Confirming the Phenomenon
The immediate answer is unequivocally yes; certain species of owl produce vocalizations often mistaken for a person screaming. The calls are typically described as a raspy, drawn-out shriek or an intense wail. This sound is a stark contrast to the deep, resonant hoo-hoo-hoo that most people associate with owls like the Great Horned Owl. The chilling call can last for several seconds, carrying far across open fields and through dense woods.
The Identity of the Nocturnal Screamer
The primary source of the human-like nocturnal scream is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Unlike the “true owls” (family Strigidae), the Barn Owl belongs to the family Tytonidae and does not produce the classic hooting sound. Its signature call is a harsh, high-pitched scream, often used repeatedly as the bird flies or hunts. This scream is typically two seconds long and is primarily emitted by the male Barn Owl to advertise his presence.
Barn Owls are the most widespread owl species globally, found on every continent except Antarctica. They favor open habitats like grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields, often nesting in quiet cavities such as hollow trees or old barns. The unsettling quality of the sound is magnified by the Barn Owl’s silent flight, which allows the piercing call to seem to materialize out of thin air. Juvenile owls of other species, such as the Great Horned Owl, also produce persistent, high-pitched begging calls that can sound like harsh shrieks while soliciting food.
The Science of the Shriek
The Barn Owl’s shriek serves multiple biological functions, primarily communication and territorial defense. The loud, drawn-out scream is a territorial call, used to warn off other Barn Owls from a hunting area or a potential nest site. Male owls often use this vocalization during the breeding season to attract a mate, a sound that can be intense and high-pitched. The sound’s acoustic properties contribute significantly to its unsettling nature.
The call is essentially a high-frequency, unmodulated sound that lacks the soft, rhythmic structure of a hoot. This harsh, raspy quality is distinct from human speech, but the sheer volume and high pitch trigger an instinctive human response, causing it to be interpreted as a distress call. When threatened or disturbed at a nest, the Barn Owl can also produce a loud, prolonged hiss that further contributes to its ghostly reputation.
Other Common Nighttime Sound Imposters
While the Barn Owl is a frequent source of the human-like scream, several other nocturnal animals commonly produce similar startling noises. The Red Fox, particularly the female (vixen) during mating season, is a well-known culprit for a chilling, high-pitched wail that closely resembles a woman screaming. This vocalization is a mating call, used to signal to male foxes that she is receptive, and it can be extremely loud.
Another source of bloodcurdling screams comes from larger predators like the Bobcat or Mountain Lion (Cougar). Both felines are capable of producing a terrifying scream or yowl, used for territory marking or as part of their mating rituals. The sounds from these mammals are often more guttural and intense than the owl’s shriek. Ultimately, a nocturnal scream that seems human is almost always an animal communicating a simple, non-threatening message.