The male's most common call is an eerie, mellow, muted trill given during the mating and nesting seasons. Each call lasts 2 to 3 seconds with about 35 notes given, and repeated at various intervals. This call is primarily territorial in nature and announces ownership of nest cavities. When in the nest with young, adults give a descending whinny call , instead of the normal call. This whinny call is given through the winter until the mating call begins again.
Females tend to bark or hoot when defending the nest.
They do not call while in flight, except when alarmed. They mainly search for prey while in flight, rather from a perch. They hunt mainly in open woodlands, along the edges of open fields or wetlands, or makes short forays into open fields. When prey are spotted, the Owl dives quickly and seizes it in its talons. They will also capture flying insects on the wing.