10 Bird That Sounds Like an Owl But Isn’t

Some birds can trick you with their calls. You might hear a hoot and think it’s an owl—but it’s not. Nature has many birds that sound like owls, and they often fool people, especially at night. In this guide, we’ll talk about each bird that sounds like an owl and how to tell them apart.

Many people ask, “What bird sounds like an owl?” or “What birds sound like owls?” Some even wonder, “What bird hoots like an owl?” or “Which bird makes owl sound at night?” These questions are common, and the answers might surprise you. Some doves, nightjars, and even jays can mimic that famous hooting. Their calls may sound soft or deep like owls, but they’re different species. Once you learn what to listen for, you’ll be able to tell the difference. Let’s explore which birds copy the owl’s voice and why they do it.

10 Bird That Sounds Like an Owl But Isn’t

Sometimes you hear a hoot in the woods and assume it’s an owl. But not always. Many birds have similar calls that can confuse even experienced birdwatchers. Here are 10 birds that sound like an owl but isn’t what you think.

The bird that sounds like an owl but isn’t could be a mourning dove, a band-tailed pigeon, or even a whip-poor-will. Their calls can be soft, deep, or hoot-like. This makes it hard to tell them apart from real owls, especially at night.

Learning the difference takes practice. Each bird that sounds like an owl but isn’t has its own rhythm and tone. Listening closely helps with sound-based bird identification. It’s all part of understanding nature’s hidden voice.

1. Mourning Dove

• Scientific name: Zenaida macroura
  
• Lifespan: About 2–5 years
  
• Wingspan: Around 17–19 inches
  
• Native to: North America
  
• Size: 12inches (30cm)
  
• Food or Diet: Seeds and grains

The Mourning Dove is a gentle, soft-voiced bird that often gets mistaken for an owl. Its deep, echoing coo sounds very much like a low hoot, especially at dawn or dusk. This makes it one common bird that sounds like an owl. You might hear it in your backyard or perched on a telephone wire, softly calling out in a calm, haunting tone.

This bird is slim and has a light brown body with black spots on its wings. Its long, pointed tail helps you spot it easily. It often feeds on the ground, pecking at seeds and grains. Though quiet by nature, its cooing call carries far in the still morning air.

Mourning Doves are found across North America. They live in open spaces, cities, farms, and even desert edges. Their soft hooting fits perfectly into peaceful outdoor scenes. This soothing sound can trick people into thinking an owl is nearby.

During mating season, the male Mourning Dove uses its cooing as a courtship call. It’s a romantic, rhythmic sound repeated in bursts. This hoot-like call plays a big role in attracting a mate.

Despite being peaceful birds, they’re often part of sound-based bird confusion. The Mourning Dove is a perfect example of a bird that sounds like an owl.

Read More: Hawks in Georgia – 10 Species With Pictures

2. Steller’s Jay

• Scientific name: Cyanocitta stelleri
  
• Lifespan: Up to 10 years
  
• Wingspan: 18 inches (45–48cm)
  
• Native to: Western North America
  
• Size: Medium, 11–13 inches (30–34cm)
  
• Food or Diet:  Nuts, seeds, insects

Steller’s Jay is one clever and noisy bird. It belongs to the crow family and lives in forests, especially near mountains and pine trees. This bold bird is easy to spot with its dark blue body and black crest. It’s not shy around people either and often visits campsites looking for snacks.

One fun fact is that Steller’s Jay is a top mimic in the bird world. It can copy many bird calls, including those of hawks and even owls. That’s why some people confuse it with a bird that sounds like an owl. Its sharp memory and smart behavior make it quite the trickster in the wild.

This jay makes all kinds of sounds—squawks, whistles, and harsh screams. But now and then, it lets out a deep, soft hoot. That hoot can sound just like an owl. It often uses this call to scare smaller birds away from feeders or defend its space.

If you’re out hiking and hear what you think is an owl, look closer. You might spot the flashy blue tail of a Steller’s Jay hopping through the branches. Its clever mimicry and bold nature make it a bird worth watching—and listening to—very carefully.

3. European Night Jar

• Scientific name: Caprimulgus europaeus
  
• Lifespan: 4 years
  
• Wingspan: 20-25 inches
  
• Native to: Europe and Asia
  
• Size: 11inches
  
• Food or Diet: Flying insects, beetles, flies, glowworms

The European Nightjar is a mysterious bird often heard at dusk. It blends into its surroundings and stays hidden during the day. You might hear it before you ever see it.

One fun fact about the European Nightjar is its call. It makes a long, churring sound, unlike most birds. But sometimes, people mistake its voice for a bird that sounds like an owl.

This bird is mostly active at night. It hunts insects in the air with smooth, silent flight. Because of its nighttime habits, it’s easy to confuse it with owls.

The European Nightjar lives in open woodlands, moors, and grasslands. It nests on the ground and uses its camouflage to stay safe from predators.

Its color is a mix of grey, brown, and black. This makes it nearly invisible when resting.

Some people think the European Nightjar is a bird that sounds like an owl, but its song is very different once you listen closely.

4. Eastern Whip-Poor Will

• Scientific name: Antrostomus vociferus
  
• Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
  
• Wingspan: 18 inches (45-50cm)
  
• Native to: North America
  
• Size: 22–26 inches
  
• Food or Diet: Flying insects, beetles, moths

The Eastern Whip-Poor-Will is a night-loving bird with a very unique voice. Its name comes from the sound it makes—whip-poor-will repeated again and again.

This bird is often heard at dusk or in the early hours before sunrise. That’s why people sometimes think it’s a bird that sounds like an owl.

Unlike owls, it doesn’t hoot. But its repeating call echoes through forests, especially during summer nights. It blends in with other night bird vocalizations.

The Eastern Whip-Poor-Will is part of the nightjar family. It’s well-camouflaged and rarely seen, which adds to the mystery of its call.

If you hear a strange, catchy chant in the dark, pause before saying it’s an owl. It might just be the Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, doing what it does best—singing through the night.

5. Tawny Frogmouth

• Scientific name: Podargus strigoides
  
• Lifespan: 14 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live for 30+ years
  
• Wingspan: 38inches
  
• Native to: Australia
  
• Size: 13- 21 inches
  
• Food or Diet: Insects, small prey, moths, beetles and spiders etc

The Tawny Frogmouth is often confused with an owl, but it’s not one. This bird belongs to a completely different family. Its wide mouth and large yellow eyes give it a similar look, but its behavior and voice are unique.

One big reason people mix it up? Its call. The Tawny Frogmouth makes a low, repeated “oom-oom-oom” sound at night. This deep call easily fools people into thinking they’ve heard an owl in the dark.

This bird that sounds like an owl isn’t trying to trick you, though. It uses its voice to communicate with its mate or mark its territory. You’ll often hear it in woodlands or urban areas with lots of trees.

They’re also nighttime hunters, which adds to the confusion. Like owls, they feed on insects and small prey during the night. Their stillness and camouflage make them hard to spot.

So, if you hear soft hooting in Australia and see a bird sitting motionless like a stick, it’s probably not an owl. It’s one of nature’s best mimics—a frogmouth quietly blending into the night. Keep your ears open; the night holds more surprises than you think.

6. Common Nighthawk

• Scientific name: Chordeiles minor
  
• Lifespan: Around 4 to 5 years
  
• Wingspan: 20-25 inches
  
• Native to: North America
  
• Size: 8-9 inches (22 to 25cm)
  
• Food or Diet: Flying insects, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, ants, and mosquitoes

The Common Nighthawk is a fast-flying bird you often see at dusk. It swoops through the sky catching insects, making it easy to spot in summer evenings.

Its call is nothing like a true hoot, but it can still confuse listeners. The sound is a sharp, high-pitched peent that echoes softly through the sky. Some mistake this for an owl’s distant call.

This bird that sounds like an owl doesn’t hoot, but its nighttime behavior adds to the mix-up. People often hear it while looking for owls, especially during night walks or while camping.

The Common Nighthawk is most active during twilight hours. That’s when its voice blends with other night bird vocalizations. It’s part of the crepuscular bird group, meaning it’s out at dawn and dusk.

Though it’s not related to owls, its habits, timing, and flight style confuse many. If you hear a strange sound at dusk, look up. It might be this insect-loving, fast-flying night bird slicing through the fading sky.

7.  Wilson’s Snipe

• Scientific name: Gallinago delicata
  
• Lifespan: 10 years
  
• Wingspan: Around 17 inches
  
• Native to: North America
  
• Size: 10–12 inches
  
• Food or Diet: Insects, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and mollusks

Wilson’s Snipe is a small, shy bird that surprises many with its strange call. It doesn’t hoot with its mouth. Instead, it makes sound with its tail.

During flight, the tail feathers vibrate and create a haunting sound. This noise can confuse people. It’s high-pitched and wavy—just like a bird that sounds like an owl in the distance.

You’ll often hear this during spring evenings. Males perform flight displays and make the winnowing sound to attract mates or defend their space.

Wilson’s Snipe lives in wet meadows and marshes. Its owl-like sound can travel far through open fields. Though it’s not an owl, it adds mystery to the night.

8. Chuck- Will’s Widow

• Scientific name: Antrostomus carolinensis
  
• Lifespan: 14 years
  
• Wingspan: 22 inches (58 to 66cm)
  
• Native to: Southeastern U.S.
  
• Size: 12inch (30cm)
  
• Food or Diet: Flying insects, small birds, moths, beetles etc

The Chuck-will’s-widow is a night bird with a very unique call. Its name comes from the sound it makes—chuck-will’s-widow, repeated again and again in the dark.

This bird is part of the nightjar family and is active during the evening and early morning. Its voice is often slow and haunting, making it easy to confuse with an owl. That’s why it’s sometimes mistaken for a bird that sounds like an owl.

You’ll hear the Chuck-will’s-widow mostly in wooded areas or near open fields. It loves warm nights and calls from high tree branches or fence posts.

Unlike owls, it doesn’t hoot. Instead, it sings in a rhythm that blends with other night bird vocalizations. This makes it tricky to identify without knowing the sound well.

If you’re out on a summer night and hear a long, rolling song, stop and listen. You just might be hearing a bird that sounds like an owl, but it’s really this clever, camouflaged singer.

9. Rock Pigeon

• Scientific name: Columba livia
  
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
  
• Wingspan: 20-26inch (50 to 67cm)
  
• Native to: Europe, North America
  
• Size: 11–15 inches (29-37cm)
  
• Food or Diet: Seeds, grains, scraps, plants, fruits

The Rock Pigeon is one of the most familiar birds in cities. You’ll see them on rooftops, sidewalks, and window ledges almost everywhere.

Their cooing sound is soft and deep. Sometimes, this bird that sounds like an owl can trick your ears, especially in quiet places or at night.

Unlike owls, they don’t hoot. But their low, repetitive calls can sound very similar to owl sounds, especially to an untrained ear.

Rock Pigeons often call during the day, but they can also make noise in the early morning or evening. That’s when people often get confused.

So, if you hear a low, echoing call near a building or park, don’t assume it’s an owl. It might just be a Rock Pigeon, cooing calmly nearby.

10. Band Tailed Pigeon

• Scientific name: Patagioenas fasciata
  
• Lifespan: Around 22 years
  
• Wingspan: 66cm (26inches)
  
• Native to: Western North America
  
• Size: 13 to 16 inches (33 to 44cm)
  
• Food or Diet: Berries, seeds, acorns, nuts, fruits etc

The Band Tailed Pigeon is a large, shy bird found in forests across western North America. Its call is deep and soft, often heard in quiet woodlands.

Many people hear its hooting and think it’s an owl nearby. But this is another clever bird that sounds like an owl, using low, echoing calls to communicate with its flock.

It usually calls during the early morning or late evening. These twilight hours make it easy to confuse its sound with a real owl’s hoot.

With a thick neck and a dark band on its tail, the Band Tailed Pigeon looks different from most doves. But its sound adds to the mystery of the forest.

FAQ’S

What time do these birds usually call?

Most birds that mimic owl sounds call during dawn or dusk. These are active times for a bird that sounds like an owl.

Can pigeons be mistaken for an owl?

Yes, especially the band-tailed pigeon. It’s a common bird that sounds like an owl due to its soft, deep cooing voice.

Do these birds call all year round?

No, many species that mimic owls only call during breeding season. That’s when a bird that sounds like an owl is most vocal.

Why do birds mimic owl sounds?

They use these calls to mark territory or attract mates. It’s part of how a bird that sounds like an owl communicates in the wild.

Are owl-like calls always deep hoots?

Not always. A bird that sounds like an owl may have soft coos, whistles, or drawn-out calls that still sound very owl-like.

Conclusion

Hearing a hoot at night doesn’t always mean there’s an owl nearby. Many birds can sound just like owls. A bird that sounds like an owl may be a dove, pigeon, or even a nightjar. Their calls can fool you, especially in the dark. These birds use hoots, coos, and soft sounds to talk, find mates, or guard their space. Some of them are active at night, while others call during early morning or late evening.

Learning to tell them apart takes time and listening. Think about the pitch, rhythm, and time of day. Some birds use mimicry to protect themselves or confuse predators. That’s why you hear birds that sound like owls even when no owl is around. From pigeon cooing to whip-poor-will calls, nature is full of surprises. Next time you hear a hoot, remember—it might just be a clever copycat in the trees.