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Are you intrigued by the mysterious sounds of owls that fill up Wisconsin’s night sky? If so, we have good news for you! You can learn to identify different owl species based on their distinct calls. In this article, we discover what makes each of the 11 common and rare owl species in Wisconsin unique – from Barred Owls to Snowy Owls – with pictures, recordings, and tips on when and where to find them.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Barred Owl: The Barred Owl’s Who cooks for you? call can be heard in mature forests.
- Great Horned Owl: The booming hoots of the Great Horned Owl echo as they hunt rabbits and skunks under the cover of night.
- Eastern Screech Owl: With a tremolo call, the adaptable Eastern Screech Owl thrives in urban areas.
- The elusive, tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl unleashes its raspy, repetitive too-too-too call.
Barred Owl
You’re out in the Wisconsin woods at night when suddenly a booming Who cooks for you? rings out – it’s the unmistakable call of the Barred Owl, letting you know you’re in its territory. As an experienced birder, you recognize the low, husky hoots of this medium-sized owl.
Barred Owls prefer mature forests and wooded swamps, where they hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians after dark.
During breeding season, listen for the male’s signature call followed by the female’s upward-inflected response. Barred Owls nest in tree cavities, often taking over abandoned nests. Though populations declined due to habitat loss, they’ve adapted well to second-growth forests.
With those distinctive brown eyes and vertical white barring on the chest, the Barred Owl is an iconic part of the Wisconsin landscape.
Great Horned Owl
You’ll often hear the great horned owl‘s deep hooting hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoo call echoing through Wisconsin forests at night. Though its size and horns can seem intimidating, this skilled nocturnal predator helps maintain healthy ecosystems as one of our state’s most common owls.
Adept at hunting in darkness, these powerful owls take prey as varied as rabbits, skunks, geese, and even porcupines. To support their nocturnal habits, horned owls boast excellent low-light vision, silent flight, and acute hearing that lets them locate prey precisely.
They nest early to claim prime habitat, typically choosing tree cavities or abandoned raptor nests. Throughout courtship and nesting, these vocal owls communicate with a range of hoots, chuckles, and screams.
Though secretive, listening for their resonant hoots as night falls offers a thrilling way to detect Wisconsin’s largest owl without ever glimpsing its huge, haunting eyes.
Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern Screech Owl’s tremolo call communicates with others of its kind throughout southern Wisconsin’s wooded urban habitats.
- Recognize the Eastern Screech Owl by its tremolo call – a rapid series of hoots accelerating in pitch.
- This species adapts well to urban settings like parks and yards, nesting in tree cavities.
- They hunt small prey at night and have light and dark color morphs as camouflage.
Living alongside humans, the Eastern Screech Owl frequents well-wooded neighborhoods and city parks across southern Wisconsin. They nest in natural tree cavities or nest boxes provided by homeowners. At night they swoop from perches to snatch insects, rodents, and birds using specialized stealth feathers.
Their haunting tremolo call, resembling a bouncing ball, rings out as they claim territory and find mates. Distinctly petite, yet supremely resourceful, the Eastern Screech Owl demonstrates incredible adaptability.
These masters of camouflage blend into their surroundings, yet always reveal themselves through their signature call. Their haunting nocturnal dialogue resonates as a mysterious chorus in Wisconsin’s urban woods.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
You’ve just learned about the Eastern Screech Owl’s haunting tremolo call. Now let’s shift our focus to the Northern Saw-whet Owl, one of Wisconsin’s most common yet elusive owls. Though small in size, its raspy, whistling too-too-too call grabs your attention.
Search for this cavity nester in dense coniferous or mixed forests, where it roosts in tree holes or old woodpecker nests during the day. At night, listen for its repetitive toy-saw call, sounding as if it’s endlessly sharpening its beak.
Sadly, loss of habitat threatens the species, so be sure to report your sightings to help scientists track populations. As a master of camouflage with stealthy habits, you’re unlikely to spy a Saw-whet.
But cup your ears after dark, and its wheezy, mechanical trill may reveal its presence. Let its mesmerizing wind-up toy voice captivate you, but tread lightly to avoid disturbing its nocturnal hunting.
Long-eared Owl
The long-eared owl exhibits unique behaviors and adaptations:
Roosts in dense conifers during the day, blending in with its camouflaged plumage.
Hunts nocturnally, floating silently on wings to ambush rodents and small mammals.
Performs acrobatic aerial displays and utters low hoots during mating season.
Nests in abandoned crow and hawk nests lined with downy feathers.
Found year round roosting and nesting in Wisconsin forests, listen for the low, two note hoot signaling the presence of the secretive long-eared owl nearby. With patience you may glimpse this master of camouflage blending into its daytime roost.
Barn Owl
You’ll recognize the Barn Owl’s eerie, screeching song as it fiercely guards its territory at night in southern Wisconsin. Spotting this medium-sized owl can be difficult, as its camouflaged feathers allow it to blend into its surroundings with ease.
| Appearance | Habits |
|---|---|
| Pale face, dark eyes | Expert hunter, mainly by sound |
| Heart-shaped facial disk | Cavity nester, often in barns |
| Long wings, short tail | Rodents primary prey |
Less common than its relatives, the cryptic Barn Owl occupies open habitats including mixed farmland, prairies, and marshes in southern parts of the state. Its far-reaching screeches proclaim domain over subdued fields after sunset. Adaptations like keen hearing give this efficient hunter an advantage while chasing down voles and mice under cover of darkness.
Though wary, Barn Owls present a distinctive profile and telltale calls to aid identification.
Short-eared Owl
Check out this rare bird’s unique daylight hunting and nesting habits. The short-eared owl is truly extraordinary. Unlike most owls that hunt at night, this raptor uniquely hunts during daylight hours out in open meadows and marshes.
Here are 5 fascinating facts about its habits:
- Perches on the ground rather than trees due to its long wings.
- Nests on bare ground in a slight depression, unlike other owls that use tree cavities.
- Lays larger clutches of up to 11 eggs.
- Both parents incubate eggs and feed young.
- Migrates south in winter when prey becomes scarce.
Observing this owl’s daylight hunting and ground nesting in Wisconsin provides a special treat for birders. We’re fortunate that this rare owl migrates through the state. Next time you’re out in an open field, listen and look for its distinctive fluttering flight in search of prey.
Great Gray Owl
Fancy hearing the lonesome hoo hoo hoo call of the Great Gray Owl, one of Wisconsin’s largest owls with distinctive features, while stargazing on a brisk night as the early bird gets the worm.
As an experienced birdwatcher, I’m delighted when this grand northern owl’s territorial hooting interrupts the nocturnal silence.
Spotting a Great Gray is a special treat since they’re uncommon, straying south during irruptive winters when prey is scarce up north.
With cat-like facial disks directing sound to keen ears, these stealth hunters expertly snatch rodents and other small mammals.
To glimpse one, scan treetops in mature northern forests or remote swamps before dawn.
Though elusive, their size, mottled plumage, bright yellow eyes and signature call make Great Grays unmistakable.
Before they depart for nesting territories come spring, appreciate their role in balancing Wisconsin’s ecosystems.
Snowy Owl
Hear its loud hoo call when this stunning white owl drops in for the winter from the Arctic. As a rare winter visitor to Wisconsin, the Snowy Owl astonishes with its brilliant white plumage and massive size – the largest owl in North America.
Observe its migrations and habits:
- Irruptive migrations – Snowy Owls head south when lemming populations crash in the Arctic tundra habitat.
- Diurnal activity – Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls often hunt during daylight. Watch for them scanning open areas like prairies and agricultural fields.
- Vole diet – In Wisconsin, Snowy Owls primarily feed on voles and other small rodents.
Appreciate the magic of this Arctic visitor. Report sightings to contribute to Snowy Owl research and conservation. With luck, you may glimpse one of these rare white owls on its southern wintering grounds in Wisconsin.
Eastern Screech-Owl
The diminutive Eastern Screech-Owl secretes itself within the urban jungle. Though tiny, you need not strain to witness this permanent resident’s wispy feathers and beguiling countenance.
When darkness descends, scintillating tremolo calls echo and answer as these nocturnal sprites begin courting and defending territory. Attune your ears to decipher their Morse code-like calls. Their feathers excel at camouflage, but with patience your eyes may glimpse chestnut, gray and rustic plumage tucked into a cavity nest.
Seek them near water’s edge where their keen auditory senses detect and snatch crawling prey. While scarce and fleeting, sightings prove rewarding. Let your spirit soar when discovering their cryptic lifeless form transform and undulate with life under moon’s glow.
Though elusive, pinging communications confirm the Eastern Screech-Owl’s presence.
Conclusion
You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking to learn more about Wisconsin owl sounds! From the deep hooting of the Barred Owl to the tremolo call of the Eastern Screech-Owl, Wisconsin’s owls are an incredible example of the beauty and diversity found in nature.
With a little bit of practice and using techniques like creating funny mnemonics to make these bird songs stick in your memory, learning bird songs, you can quickly learn to distinguish between the different owl species and even identify individual birds by their distinct calls. Whether you’re a novice birder or a seasoned expert, listening to the owl calls of Wisconsin can be a rewarding experience.
So grab a pair of binoculars and get out there – the owls of Wisconsin await!
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