** Reply to note from tweeters at u.washington.edu Sun, 9 Mar 1997 00:07:48 PST


> On a tangent to the discussion of "hooting" for owls, I'm curious as to
> what kind of calls people have heard Saw-whets making. I have only heard
> them 2 or 3 times in Alaska and the call was a steady beep-beep-beep like a
> little back-up bell. To me that isn't the least bit reminiscent of whetting
> a saw, yet their name is supposed to derive from the sound of their call.
> Does it have more of a metallic whang when heard up close? Or do they have
> different calls in different parts of the country?

The "dropping-water" thing is the typical "song" of a Saw-whet. The actual
"saw-whet" call you mention is a curious sound but I have only heard this
during the spring a couple of times. Yes, it has a vaguely metallic quality
to it that does sound like someone sharpening a saw. If you really want to hear
what these little creatures can do, get one mad and have it start squealing
at you. Guaranteed you'll think twice before approaching too closely! Rick
Howie and I had one perched on the road in front of us squealing at the top
of its lungs one night. We were trying to call in Barred Owls and I guess
this little fellow just couldn't take such an intruder in its territory. We
were quite astounded given that if we had been a real Barred Owl, it likely
would have been toast. However, it probably knew we weren't a "real" owl and
just wanted us out of there.

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca