As night falls, the air often fills with natural sounds. While owl hoots are distinctive, not every nocturnal vocalization belongs to an owl. Many non-owl species produce calls that mimic typical owl sounds, leading to frequent misidentification. These calls can acoustically overlap with the hoots, coos, or trills of true owls, causing confusion.
Birds Often Mistaken for Owls
Several bird species are frequently mistaken for owls due to their vocalizations, particularly in low light. The Mourning Dove, common across North America, is a prime example. Its soft, mournful “hoooo, hoo, hoo” or “cooOOoo-wooooo-woo-woo” call can be confused with an owl’s hoot, especially at dawn or dusk. While active during the day, their calls can extend into twilight hours.
Another bird whose sounds cause misidentification is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, sometimes known as the “rain crow.” This slender, long-tailed bird produces a stuttering series of “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp” calls, audible from a distance. Though often vocal in the afternoon, they can call at night, particularly during migration, inhabiting dense deciduous woodlands.
Common Nighthawks, part of the nightjar family, are also frequently mistaken for owls. Their “nasal peent or beer call” is often heard as they fly, and courting males produce a “croaking auk auk auk call.” These birds are active at dusk and dawn over open fields, forests, and urban areas.
Other nightjars, such as the Eastern Whip-poor-will and Chuck-will’s-widow, are nocturnal vocalists attributed to owls. The Whip-poor-will has a repetitive “whip-poor-will” call, a quavering, high-pitched trill. The Chuck-will’s-widow repeats its own name in a distinctive sequence. Steller’s Jays, while not nocturnal, mimic other bird sounds, including owl vocalizations, which can lead to daytime confusion.
What Makes a Call Sound Owl-Like
Bird calls perceived as “owl-like” stem from specific acoustic characteristics. Many owl species produce low-frequency, deep, and resonant calls. These often involve repetitive hooting or cooing patterns. The timing of these vocalizations also plays a role; as many owls are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, any deep, repetitive call heard at night or twilight is easily associated with them.
Owls utilize vocalizations for establishing territories and attracting mates. The structure of their calls, with distinct hoots or phrases, is adapted for communication across distances in their forested habitats. This combination of low-frequency sounds, repetitive patterns, and nocturnal activity creates an auditory profile that other species can mimic or replicate. The human ear can then interpret these similar sounds as originating from an owl.
How to Distinguish from True Owls
Differentiating between the calls of true owls and those of other birds requires attention to specific auditory cues. While Mourning Doves coo, their calls are often described as more “mournful” or “sad” and typically lack the sharper, deeper, or more guttural quality of many owl hoots. True owl hoots, such as those from a Great Horned Owl, often have a distinct, stuttering rhythm like “hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo,” with the female’s pitch noticeably higher than the male’s.
The Barred Owl’s call is particularly identifiable with its “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” sequence, a complex phrase distinct from simple coos. Eastern Screech-Owls produce a descending whinny or a monotonic trill, sounds unlike the hoots of larger owls. Barn Owls, contrary to the hooting stereotype, emit a harsh, raspy screech.
Time of day is another important indicator; most owls are active at night or during twilight, while birds like the Mourning Dove are primarily diurnal, although they may call at dawn or dusk. Observing the bird visually, if possible, can also provide clarity, as owls possess large heads and forward-facing eyes, a feature not shared by most other birds with similar calls.