ID this nocturnal bird (probably)

November 25, 2020 5:51 PM

This bird in Minnesota seemed to be crepuscular and/or nocturnal. It was first noticed in July and it was still around as recently as early October, audible at dusk and for a few hours after sunset. I don't know if it was active at other hours as well. In summer the calls were spaced roughly 5 seconds apart, while in October they were about 30 seconds apart. It was kind of like a screech but with a shift in tone that gave it a slightly drawn-out, plaintive quality. What was it? Audio links and additional details inside:

This was in a suburb of the Twin Cities in a residential neighborhood amid tracts of mature broadleaf woodland. Aside from a handful of tiny ponds in the area, the nearest decent-sized lake is about a mile away. The call seemed to come from a stationary spot, but the location varied somewhat from day to day. No response calls were audible. It hasn't been heard for a few weeks so it's possible the bird has migrated for the winter.

It somewhat resembles a nighthawk, but this bird’s tone is very different and it’s less harsh-sounding compared to the examples I've heard online. I suppose it could possibly be some other kind of animal—maybe a fox?—but it really sounds avian to me. My parents, who heard and recorded the calls, have diligently checked the Cornell Ornithology Lab app as well as many online recordings and didn’t come away with a likely suspect.

Here’s a raw recording from August.
This is a recording from early October with the silences edited out and heavily EQ’d so the calls stand out more.

posted by theory to Science & Nature (7 answers total)

Not definitive, but my guess would be immature Red-tailed Hawk. Have a listen to some calls of those, see if it matches up.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:48 PM on November 25, 2020

Response by poster: mcstayinskool: The sound is kind of similar and you may be right, but in the examples I've listened to the juvenile red-tailed hawk's call is a series of screams. Whatever was in my parents' neighborhood gave just a single call and did so in a regular rhythm. In summer it was once every 4-5 seconds and in October (which is when I heard it in person) it was once every 20-30 seconds. I also have some doubt that a young red-tail would still be calling for food from its parents as late in the season as October, especially at night.
posted by theory at 8:31 PM on November 25, 2020

Best answer: Young Great Horned Owls make a call similar to that. Look at "begging calls" here https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/sounds#
posted by The otter lady at 8:58 PM on November 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I'd bet it's an owl begging call. I once spent a very frustrated October night trying to figure it out.
posted by RedEmma at 9:17 AM on November 26, 2020

Best answer: Basically, the juvenile owl has been cut off from being fed by its parents. And like most teenagers, it doesn't care for this one bit.
posted by RedEmma at 9:17 AM on November 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: "Mom? MoOM! I need voles! MOM?"
posted by The otter lady at 11:27 AM on November 26, 2020 [6 favorites]

Response by poster: My folks talked to some neighbors today who said this thing was making a racket behind their house almost every night for much of the year. Apparently they knew there was a great horned owl nest back there, but didn't realize this was one of their calls because it sounds so different from the familiar great horned owl hooting. Everyone involved was very eager for this juvenile to move out on its own.
posted by theory at 8:21 PM on November 27, 2020