Birds have a wide variety of calls and songs that they use to communicate different messages. While most bird vocalizations sound nothing like a cat call, there is one species that makes a sound very similar to the whistling cat call made by humans.
Barred Owl
The bird that most closely mimics a cat call whistle is the barred owl. The barred owl (Strix varia) is a large owl native to North America. It gets its name from the prominent brown and white horizontal barring on its chest and belly feathers. Barred owls are highly vocal birds that use a wide repertoire of calls for communicating different messages and meanings.
One of the most distinct vocalizations of the barred owl is a loud, raspy hooting sound: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” This hooting call almost sounds like someone whistling a cat call. The barred owl will give this call spontaneously, but especially in response to the calls of other barred owls. This helps the owls identify each other’s territory and find mates during breeding season.
Purpose of Cat Call Sound
Researchers believe there are several reasons why barred owls include a cat call-like sound in their vocal repertoire:
- Attracting mates: The cat call hoot may help male barred owls attract females during breeding season.
- Establishing territory: Barred owls will call back and forth to identify territory boundaries and warn intruding owls away.
- Individual identification: Variations in the call pattern may help owls identify specific individuals.
- Long-distance communication: The loud, carrying cat call hoot allows barred owls to communicate over longer distances.
Unique Anatomy
Barred owls have special anatomical adaptations that allow them to produce their wide range of vocalizations:
- Large syrinx: The syrinx is the avian equivalent of the larynx or voice box in mammals. The barred owl has an especially large syrinx that enables it to make lots of different sounds.
- Asymmetrical ears: Barred owls have one ear higher than the other. This helps the owl better locate sounds in multiple directions.
- Disk-like facial feathers: The round facial feathers on the barred owl help direct sounds into the ears.
Other Birds that Mimic Sounds
While the barred owl is the species whose natural call most closely resembles a cat call whistle, there are a few other birds that can mimic or imitate cat calls and other sounds:
Mockingbirds
Mockingbirds are renowned for their ability to mimic all kinds of sounds, from other bird songs to car alarms. If a mockingbird hears a cat call whistle enough times, it may add it to its repertoire to repeat back. Mockingbirds pick up sounds from their environment and will often learn the most common sounds around them.
Lyrebirds
Lyrebirds are famous for their skill in vocal mimicry. One species, the superb lyrebird of Australia, can imitate chainsaws, camera shutters, car alarms, and crying babies – along with many other sounds in its environment. A lyrebird may mimic a cat call whistle if it hears one in its surroundings.
Parrots
Many parrot species are excellent vocal mimics as well. For example, the Indian ringneck parakeet has been known to imitate human speech with great accuracy. If you teach a parrot to give a cat call whistle, it may add this to its vocabulary and repeat it back on cue or spontaneously.
Songbirds
Some songbirds like European starlings display mimicry skills as well. Starlings often incorporate sounds from their environment like car alarms and police sirens into their songs. So in areas where cat calling is common, they may pick up the whistling sound and repeat it back.
Recordings of the Barred Owl Call
To hear the unique cat call sound of the barred owl yourself, here are some audio recordings:
Barred Owl Call Examples
Listen to the barred owl give its distinctive “Who cooks for you?” cat call hoot:
A pair of barred owls calling back and forth to each other:
Other Barred Owl Vocalizations
Barred owls make a wide range of other calls as well besides the cat call hoots. Here are some examples of hoots, cackles, and screams:
Conclusion
Of all the bird species that vocalize and call, the barred owl is the one whose natural vocalization most closely resembles the cat call whistle made by humans. The barred owl’s loud, carrying “Who cooks for you?” hoot allows it to communicate over long distances to attract mates, establish territory, and identify individuals. Other birds like mockingbirds, lyrebirds, parrots, and songbirds can also mimic a cat call whistle if they hear the sound in their environment and add it to their repertoire. But the eerie, raspy sound is a natural part of the barred owl’s vocabulary. The next time you hear a bird sound like it’s giving a cat call, look up into the trees and see if you can spot the barred owl!