The Distinction

Macramé owl language can be a challenge to learn and decipher. Even scientists who study the macramé owl often are unable to make a clear distinction between a macramé owl call and a macramé owl hoot. Here, we endeavour to make this job easier.

Macramé owl calls

Macramé owl calls are voiced when a macramé owl is seeking attention. It is sending out a signal that it wants to engage in a conversation. There is a special and particular message that it wants to convey. It wants to be heard and it is seeking a reply.

Macramé owl hoots

Conversely, a macramé owl hoot is voiced when the macramé owl is rambling, complaining, or just plain bored. It has no interest or investment in a conversation. It is merely exercising its vocal chords, or ‘babbling’.

Examples

Click on the call or hoot name to listen to it.

Calls

Mating call: hoo-hoo-HOOOO
This call may be voiced for a long time and progressively increases in volume, as the macramé owl loses patience for its mating partner to respond.

Hungry natter: tut-tut-tut-tut-tut
This call is voiced by younger macramé owls to ask for a feeding.

Hoots

Chagrinned hoot: trill… cawh
This hoot is voiced when a macramé owl was hopeful about something (trill), but then became quickly disillusioned (cawh). For example, if it received no response to the mating call, it would later be voicing a chagrinned hoot.

Squawk: rap-rap-rap raaaar
This is a common attention-seeking macramé owl hoot.