Tawny Owls (1 Viewer)

Ive been hearing the kewick call of a tawny owl for the past week or so, but tonight ive seen two in a tree a few feet away from the window. They were kewicking and hooting. Why is each call used? Do the male and female have different calls?
Thanks Seb

Hi seb.
they just use a varation of the calls, kewick-hooo
between them, the 1st repeated fierce and shrill
as alarm call.
bert

Also seb, down this neck of the woods when it never stops raining, the call is to wet to woo

Lol Bert

Theyve been back and seem to perform half the song each : one of them doing the tuwhit then teh second doing the extended wooo part.

Have read that it's the female that gives the kevick call, not entirely convinced, tho......

Andy.

Hi Seb-seb

The female Tawny Owl kewicks and the male hoots in answer, this is usually done on a territory which has been used for breeding earlier in the year. However, when a new bird comes into the area you may hear quite vociferous calling from either sex, it's possible that one of the original pair has died and pair bonding is taking place taking place with the new partner. This pair bonding happens about this time of year anyway when partners may be separated throughout the Winter. Food is sometimes scarce on a lot of periferal territories, the territorial pair may go to different hunting areas where the prey is more plentiful, then, as the call of the next breeding season becomes strong it will bring them back again. The pair bonding then starts all over again, kewicking and hooting, you know the rest.

nirofo.

Thanks for that Nirofo.....answered everything really