Hoots, shrieks, barks and “kewick”
Who is making that noise in the dark? A guide to UK owl calls, in words.
Descriptions of sounds in words only go so far. For the real thing, the Barn Owl Trust, RSPB and BTO species pages have recordings.
Tawny owl
The famous “twit twoo” is a tawny owl. Usually the female calls “kewick” and the male “hoohoo”, but calls vary. source The classic “tu-whit tu-who” is really a duet: the female’s kew-wick and the male’s answering hooo. source If you regularly hear an owl hooting, it is likely to be a tawny owl. source Shakespeare put the tawny owl’s call into Love’s Labour’s Lost: “Tu-whit; Tu-who, a merry note”. source
Little owl
The little owl’s call is a plaintive “kiew kiew”, plus a “wherrow” said to sound like a small dog barking. source
Long-eared owl
The long-eared owl gives a rarely heard “hoo, hoo, hoo”, and only in the breeding season. source
Short-eared owl
The short-eared owl male’s rarely heard song is a low “boo-boo-boo”; females give a “ree-yow”. source
Nesting barn owls are protected from disturbance by law, so don’t play recordings at a nest site to “call them in”. source