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VOICE: Territorial male gives series of 4-14 paired, growling hoots, hroohoo, hroo-hoo, hroo-hoo..., second note slightly higher-pitched18,33. Lasts ca 7 sec, barely audible at first, rising to crescendo, gular skin inflated42 and tail depressed18 with each note. Calls at irregular intervals, sometimes every 20 sec; sometimes in response to calling by another territorial male18. During incubation, male calls at territory boundaries morning and evening18. Males may duet, or several males may call simultaneously18. In courtship, male gives soft whip, rapidly repeated 2-18 x (2 notes/sec) for up to 20 min15,18; whip also given by male relieving female at nest18. Single koorr, or series of koorr warning notes often given in presence of another male, or to intruding spp18. Female usually silent18, but 1 record of female responding to hooting call of male with similar call, but soft, almost inaudible42. Ad sometimes gives urrrrr outside nest when partner is brooding young15,47. When br, birds (mostly males), respond readily to playback of hooting call. In 83 % of 220 playbacks (Oct-Dec), males approached call; females in 15 %15. By Jan, male response rates dropped to < 50 %; females did not respond15. Begging nestlings give soft, coarse, high-pitched swizzle15; hiss when alarmed4,26.
Author:WRJ Dean & MA du Plessis
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Please click sonogram to play sound.
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Typical hooting call
September Weza Kwazulu-Natal
Recording Guy Gibbon
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