Unknown Bird Sound (At Night)

[Nicoleb]

Did you figure out what it was? I have been hearing something similar! Short sharp eow noises!
We live in Whangarei central but back on to a stream.

[Ian Southey]

Go back to the Morepork. Although you think otherwise it is a very good description of a call they sometimes give and doesn't fit anything else.

Ian

[robynt]

Hi there. I too was perplexed by a night time call and headed to the internet to try and find the owner. I luckily found mine to be a morepork with a high pitched scream. I never knew they made this noise. Have you tried http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/morepork and tried listening to their mewing sound or the cree sound?

Hope this helps.
Cheers
Robyn

[The Laird]

Are there any Peafowl around. I dont know about them calling at night though. Have a listen: http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/peafowl#bird-sounds. Have you the little German Owl that far north?
Try and catch a recording on your phone'
Laird

[Oscar Thomas]

Since this thread was bought back up, don't long tailed cuckoo sometimes call at night?

[Davidthomas]

They certainly do Oscar, I have heard them calling at 3am in the morning on a dark night. Although I imagine it would be more prolific during the full moon when it's lighter.

[Amber Calman]

I get them at night a fair bit, really cool noise.
Seem to hear them at any time of night or day, though not anymore so I think they may have left.

[Weka1]

I'm running with Morepork. 'Eow' is a good description of one of their calls. We have a pair around all year and probably a juvenile right now too. I hear them call 'eoww', often repeated, along with their 'mor, mor' call, as well as their 'scree' screech, and of course the traditional 'morepork'.

As an aside. Some years ago I was hearing, at dusk, a weird high pitched scream. Possibly a rat being killed I thought. However over a number of days an unusual number of rats seemed to be dying. Investigating further I voyeuristically observed a pair of morepork copulating. One of these birds, I do not know which, gave this unearthly scream during copulation. I have never read of this being observed before and it is yet another unlikely morepork call.

Along with kiwi and weka calling around the house, nights can be pleasingly noisy!

[Kiwiwinz]

It maybe a little german owl?

[kengeorge]

Do you hear the sound on nights with even a little bit of wind, but not on still nights? Tree branches rubbing together can make all sorts of squeaking and groaning noises.........just a suggestion.

Ken George
Golden Bay Birder