Book 31, Question 84 · Video
Why do owls hoot at night?
Owls hoot to send messages through the dark. A deep, low hoot travels a long way through the trees, so one owl can tell neighbors, “This is my territory.” Owls also hoot back and forth to stay in touch. Each kind of owl has its own pattern. The barred owl’s call sounds like “Who cooks for you?” and the great horned owl makes a deeper “hoo-hoo-hoo.”
Read the full answer →Watch on YouTubeSee the series on Amazon
What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do owls hoot at night?
The Big Idea
Hoo! Hoo! Owls call out in the dark. Why do owls hoot at night?
Messages in the Dark
Step one: Messages in the Dark. Owls hoot to send messages through the dark. A deep, low hoot travels a long way through the trees.
My Territory
Step two: My Territory. One owl can tell its neighbors, this is my territory. Owls also hoot back and forth to stay in touch with their mates.
Owl Patterns
Step three: Owl Patterns. Each kind of owl has its own hooting pattern. The great horned owl makes a deep hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo, while the tiny screech owl makes a wobbly whinny.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Travel far. Marked by sound. Stay in touch. Each kind differs.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Owls can't see in total darkness, but they hear very well. Low sounds travel farther. Each kind of owl has its own call. Many owls are active at night.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, listen outdoors at dusk for owl calls. Or play a recording of owl hoots from a library website. Count the hoots in one call. Try to copy the pattern with your voice. Did your hoot sound the same?
Outro
Owls hoot to send messages through the dark, because low hoots travel far through trees. They mark territory, stay in touch with mates, and each kind has its own pattern, like the great horned owl's deep hoo, hoo-hoo. Science is amazing! The world is full of surprises. Keep asking big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!