Coyotes are highly vocal animals, often referred to as “song dogs” due to their wide range of sounds. Understanding these distinct vocalizations helps identify their presence and provides insight into their behaviors. Coyotes communicate through an extensive repertoire of calls, each serving a specific purpose within their social structure and environment.
Common Coyote Sounds
Coyotes produce a variety of sounds. Their howls are long, eerie wails that often rise and fall in pitch, creating an impression of numerous animals even if only a few are vocalizing. These howls can range in frequency from 300 to 800 Hz. Individual coyotes possess unique howl patterns, allowing others to distinguish them.
Yips are rapid, high-pitched sounds, sometimes resembling laughter or chattering. These are often interspersed with howls, forming a complex group yip-howl. Coyote barks are sharp and staccato in nature. These barks can also be combined with yips and howls, creating a varied vocal display.
Growls are low, raspy vocalizations. Whimpers or whines are softer, more plaintive sounds. Less common but notable sounds include yelps, which are high-intensity whines, and screams, which are distress signals.
Why Coyotes Vocalize
Coyotes vocalize for various reasons, primarily to communicate with pack members and establish their presence. Howls serve as a long-distance communication method, helping coyotes locate one another or reassemble after individual hunting. These collective howls also function as a territorial display, warning other coyote groups to stay away and creating an “auditory fence” around their area. This impressive vocal display can make a small group sound much larger, deterring potential intruders.
Yips are used in social contexts, such as greetings, during play, or as an alarm signal. The group yip-howl, which blends yips with howls, promotes bonding within the family unit while simultaneously marking territory. Barks primarily serve as warning or alert signals, indicating danger or warding off perceived threats. Coyotes may bark to defend a den, a kill, or their general territory from intruders.
Growls are a direct threat, communicating displeasure, anger, or a defensive posture, particularly when a coyote feels threatened or is guarding pups or food. Whines and whimpers are typically expressions of submission, often used by subordinate coyotes toward more dominant individuals. Pups use whimpers to solicit care and attention from their mother.
Differentiating Coyote Calls
Distinguishing coyote sounds from those of other canids like domestic dogs, foxes, or wolves requires attention to specific characteristics. Coyote vocalizations tend to be higher pitched and exhibit more variability than dog sounds. Coyote barks are often sharper and more staccato, unlike the typically deeper barks of many domestic dogs. Coyotes frequently combine various vocalizations, mixing barks, yelps, yips, and howls into complex sequences.
Foxes have a wide array of distinct vocalizations, including high-pitched whines and yelps. Some fox calls can be shrill screams or squawks, which might be mistaken for a human scream. Coyote sounds are generally more prolonged, while fox vocalizations tend to be shorter bursts.
Wolf howls are typically deeper in tone, more drawn out, and consistent in pitch compared to coyote howls. Coyote howls are higher pitched and often include more frequent yips and barks interspersed within the howl. While wolves often howl in a more harmonious chorus, coyote vocalizations often sound more like a chaotic mix of yipping and yelping.