Owls are generally solitary, nocturnal birds of prey, but the breeding season transforms their behavior as males begin securing a mate. This process involves advertising presence, demonstrating physical capabilities, and proving value as a future partner and provider. Courtship behaviors vary across species, but they all aim to convince a female that the male possesses the best genes and territory for their offspring. The male employs a series of distinct signals, moving from long-distance communication to close-range, tangible gestures.
Vocal Communication in Courtship
The most recognizable method a male owl uses to attract a female is vocalization. Hooting establishes the male’s ownership of a territory, signaling the quality of the hunting ground he controls. For instance, the male Great Horned Owl emits deep, booming hoots that travel for miles at night to advertise his location and fitness.
Scientific studies suggest that the pitch of the male’s hoot can be a direct indicator of his physical quality. A lower-frequency hoot in species like the Scops Owl is negatively correlated with the male’s body weight, meaning a heavier male produces a lower-pitched call. Females use this acoustic information to gauge a male’s fighting ability and overall health. Once a female is near, the male often switches to softer, more intimate calls like trills, whistles, or coos, sometimes engaging in a synchronized duet to strengthen their pair bond.
Physical Demonstrations and Aerial Acrobats
Once a female is attracted by vocal advertisement, the male engages in visual and non-vocal displays to impress her. Many owl species incorporate dramatic aerial maneuvers to showcase agility and flying prowess. The Short-eared Owl, for example, performs a “sky dance” where the male ascends to great heights before diving and swooping in an undulating flight pattern.
In other species, the male performs a “moth flight,” such as the Barn Owl male, who hovers with his feet dangling in front of a perched female. Closer physical demonstrations include posturing, such as the male Great Horned Owl hooting while puffing up his white throat patch. The male may also perform a courtship dance, involving bowing, swaying, and feather fluffing, sometimes approaching the female to rub his bill against hers.
Providing Tangible Resources
The final stage of courtship involves demonstrating the male’s capacity to provide for a family by presenting tangible resources. The most common demonstration is the “nuptial gift,” where the male presents a freshly caught prey item to the female. Acceptance of this food gift is often a key step signaling the female’s approval of the male as a potential mate.
The quality and size of the prey gift are direct indicators of the male’s hunting skill and his ability to feed their future owlets. This is important because the female will be mostly confined to the nest during this period. Beyond food, the male also takes the lead in selecting the nesting site, since owls do not build their own nests. He draws the female’s attention to a potential location—such as an abandoned hawk’s nest or a tree cavity—by flying to it and sometimes performing a ritual like stomping on the site.