Date:         Sat, 9 Feb 2002 00:18:01 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Jim Stasz <Jlstasz@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Great Horned Owls in Odenton
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Hi Folks!

Let me elaborate a bit  ... I agree that the larger in size Great Horned Owl=
=20
is the female [as is typical in raptors, owls, etc], but.....

According to Bent, "There is a sexual difference in the notes, the voice of
the supposed male being pitched on a lower key, perhaps three or even four
half-tones lower: his notes are more prolonged and elaborate, rich, deep,
and mellow: hers are usually shorter, simpler, and softer"

"Vocalizations are varied and difficult to characterize. Number of syllables=
=20
varies, even for a single individual. Male vocalizations are more elaborate,=
=20
more prolonged, richer, deeper, and more mellow than those of female (Austin=
g=20
and Holt 1966)."

"Female vocalizations are higher in pitch because of smaller syrinx in the=20
larger sex (Miller 1934)".

"Paired birds often synchronize their territorial advertisement songs, known=
=20
as duetting, over 10-60 min. Female sings 6- or, more often 7-note song,=20
clearly articulated, lasting 3s; 15- to 20-s interval between songs. Male=20
responds with 5-note song also lasting about 3s. Male begins during or withi=
n=20
a few seconds after female's song (Emlen 1973)."

from:=A0 Houston, C.S., D.G. Smith, C. Rohner. 1998. Great Horned Owl (Bubo=20
virginianus). In The Birds of North America, No. 372 (A. Poole and F. Gill,=20
eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.


Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com

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