Things That Go Screech

The gloom of the night is when Scotland's wildlife comes alive, but who do those hisses, cackles and screams belong to?

- by REBECCA GIBSON

BARN OWL

Picture a barn owl and you will likely imagine soft, white feathers and a heart-shaped face. It is strange then, that when these angelic-looking birds open their bills, the sound of a hell-bound banshee bursts out.

A male sits in what he considers a good nest site and screeches to attract a female and get her verdict on his interior design. If she deems it up to scratch and ultimately mates with him, then it's her turn to hiss when she's peckish and wants room service.

Often the only glimpse you will get of a barn owl is a flash of white in the dark.

Their downy feathers are fringed at the edges to muffle the sound of their flapping wings. This enables barn owls to hunt in almost total silence, helping them to track their prey by sound and also remain stealthy enough to catch it.

The next minute, they shred that serene quiet with a sound straight from your nightmares.

FOX

Renowned for their repertoire of nightmarish sounds, foxes are especially vocal during their winter breeding season, with activity peaking in January. There are grunts, chirrups and a strangled, goose-like shriek.

Vixens wail and scream while looking for a mate.

An aggressive sound called “gekkering” is a cross between a raspy yelp and a persistent cough, reserved for both play-fighting and genuine scuffles.

Gekkering is often accompanied by foxtrotting, which is less romantic than the ballroom dance.

When a dispute breaks out between vixens, dog foxes or both, the pair rise onto their back legs, press front paws against their opponent's shoulders and try to shove them over, ears back and mouth wide open.

It might look dicey, but this is considered a passive way to assert dominance, and serious injury is rare.

ROE DEER