Sixth smallest owl species in Montana
Their primary song is a low, even-pitched whistle trill followed by a descending high-pitched (shrill) “whinny” sound similar to a horse’s whinny. The low whistle can be used to keep pairs in contact with one another and the whinny is often used to defend territories. Mated pairs will sing one after another to each other any time of the day or night.
Their calls are commonly soft, low “hoot”s; loud alarm “bark”s; or, as their name suggests, “screech” sounds to defend nests.
