Decoding Daytime Owl Calls: 4 Hidden Behaviors
Owls are among those birds famous for their distinctive hooting. Most people believe that Owls Hoot only at night but hooting of owls is sometimes observed during the day. Both observations are correct! They mostly hoot at night but may also hoot in the daytime for certain reasons.
Breeding seasons, Diurnal nature, environmental factors, and communication quirks, all play a crucial role in Owl daytime hooting.
There are reasons for Owl hoots during the day. If you are curious to explore the mystery, read the post till the end.
Nocturnal Nature of Owl
Owl is famous for its nocturnal nature (active after dark). They are skilled in hunting their prey during the night. They are sleep experts during the day and become energetic during the night. These nocturnal habits are the strategy for their survival.

Insight into Owl Habits
Owls truly come alive after the dark. Their remarkable night vision and hearing power enable them to catch their prey easily. They become active at night after a long sleep when the world is ready to sleep.
Reasons for Owl Hooting During the Day
Now we start to discuss the reason that force owls to hoot during the day
All Owls are Not Nocturnal- Some are Diurnal
When we talk about owls, we think that they are creatures of night. It is right but not all owls are night creatures. Surely some owls are early-creatures who prefer daytime to hoot over the dark, called diurnal. They are adapted to capture prey and build nest sites in the sunlit hours.

Example of Daytime Active Owls
- Northern Hawk Owl ( Surnia ulula )
- Short-eared owl ( Asio flammeus )
- Northern Pygmy Owl ( Glaucidium californicum )
- Burrowing Owl
They choose to be active during the sunlight.
Breeding Season and Parenting Duties
Breeding season and parental duties play their role in shifting the nocturnal owl to the diurnal owl.
Breeding Season
Breeding season is a pivotal phase characterized by courtship rituals and the search for the ideal nesting sites. Male owls start to hoot during day hours to catch female’s attention. The more loudly they hoot, the more chances to attract females.
Parenting Responsibilities
When their family expands, it will change their daily routines. Their parenthood responsibilities shift Nocturnal owls to be active even during the daytime to ensure the well-being of the family growth.
Environmental Triggers for Daytime Hooting
Environmental factors also play an important role in the vocal shift of owls.
Changing Season:
Change in season brings a change in the habits of birds. Daytime vocalization is triggered during the onset of the spring season or the crisp autumn air.
Weather Patterns:
There is a correlation between owl hooting and weather change. Weather conditions from clear skies to rough nights influence the hooting time of owls. Their vocalization is also affected by wind or sunlight presence.
Communication and Territorial Marking
Owls don’t use words to talk as we do, so they hoot. They are also very possessive about their space. They may hoot during the daytime to communicate with others and to defend their territory.
Communication With Other Owls
Owls use multiple vocalization methods for communication. Each sound they produce has a specific meaning they want to convey to their fellows.
- Hooting allows them to talk over an extended distance
- To ask for help via hooting
- They tell their friends about danger through hooting.
Defending their Territories
Like other birds, Owls set their boundaries. If they become insecure about their space they start to hoot loudly even during the daylight.

They hoot
- To tell other birds that It is their place.
- To keep other owls away from their place.
- To protect their babies
- To keep the predators away from the nest.
These are the big secrets of why owls might hoot during the day.
Fun Facts about Owls
Owls are famous for their remarkable vision and exceptional hearing ability. Some characteristics of owls are given in the table
Fact | Explanation |
Slight Fight | They can quietly fly to capture their prey |
Neck Twisting | They can rotate their heads almost all the way around. |
Super Hearing | They can hear even soft sounds from an extended distance. |
Camouflage | Their feathers hide them in bushes and trees |
Hooting owls during the daytime is not unusual. They may hoot because of the reason we discussed earlier. This article unwraps the reason why owls hoot during daylight. Did you know another contradiction on eating owls?
FAQS
Does weather pattern affect Owls’ hooting?
Weather patterns may influence the hooting of owls. When conditions are less favorable they hoot loudly to secure their food and babies.
Do all the Owl species hoot during the daytime?
No, the Owl is the king of the night, but some species may hoot during the daylight. It is common in those species that are active in the daytime.
Does an owl hoot during the night?
Yes, some owls hoot during the night because of the following reasons.
They hoot
- To communicate with others
- To defend their territories
- To attract their mate
What does barred owl hooting mean?
Barred Owl has a unique hooting series of 8-9 calls, explained by phrases
“Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all.”
Conclusion
This article unveils the secrets of why owls hoot during the Day. Their diurnal nature and environmental factors allow them to hoot during daylight. They may hoot to find mates, protect their territories, or communicate with other owls. You can also know if is it illegal to eat owls?