How to make an owl or dove call through your hands

Feb 7th, 2005 by Hil

In Arthur Ransome‘s delightful series of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ children’s books from the 1930′s, the kids use owl calls to signal to each other at various points in their adventures.

“There was a noise in the wood below them, a noise something like an owl and something like a cuckoo, ending in a gurgle of laughter that was not like a bird at all.
“Here they are,” said John.
“It’s no good their trying to make the owl call,” said Roger. “They can’t do it.”
“What they’re good at is ducks,” said John. “I’ve never heard anybody quack so well as Peggy.”
“Nobody can be good at everything,” said Titty.

– from ‘Swallowdale’ –

I always imagine that they are making owl calls by blowing through their hands rather than too-wit-too-wooing. So how do you do that? Clasp your hands together like this:

If its more natural for you to have your hands wrapping around in the opposite way, thats fine; go with what feels best. Widen the clasp of your fingers so a little cave forms inside your hands. Your fingers can start fairly relaxed as long as they don’t let air escape between them. Now press your thumbs towards each other so that there is only a very small slot between them. The tops of your thumbs should be bent over so the top joints make little ‘mountains’, and the second joints of your thumbs roll inwards towards each other a bit so the fleshy part of your thumbs are pressing together firmly. Whistleb

Now curl your lips a little around your teeth, and with mouth slightly open, press your lips to the top thumb joints, take a breath and blow through and down into the hollow of your hands. The air seems to tumble around in the hollow and then goes out through a small gap between your palms at the bottom of the hollow. Hopefully you have just made a cool owl call! But its more likely you will have to experiment and practise a bit to get the knack. Try altering the shape of the hollow by tensioning your hands differently, or blow more or less forcefully. Often a more relaxed clasp and a gentler blow makes the best whistle.Once you can do this whistle, you can trill the call by briefly opening and closing the bottom three fingers of the hand that wraps around the back of the clasp, or vary it by making different sequences of long and short calls. The tone is just right for a dove call, too, such as this one recorded by MatthewJCook.If you want to learn how to make that kind of piercing whistle that people make with two fingers in their mouth, there are excellent instructions here.

Posted in noise, tricks

81 Responses to “How to make an owl or dove call through your hands”

on 02 Jan 2007 at 11:31 am1a person

I’ve been trying this thing for a few weeks. How long does it take [normally] for a person to get the hang of this? Great guide, though.
on 01 Mar 2007 at 3:42 pm2bobby chehraz

I cant seem to get tis technique here so why dont you just reply back and tell me how to do it even though it says it up there. it is just too hard for me!
on 04 Mar 2007 at 9:58 pm3Hil

LOL! I’ve done my best!

And how long does it take? I’m afraid thats a bit like asking how long is a piece of string.
on 29 Apr 2007 at 7:40 pm4livia

I did it!! whoooo!x
lol.. great instructions coz years ago me sister tried to teach me and i couldnt doo it. she soooo couldnt teach it.
Now i can even do it curling my tongue a bit, but its really not as loud.
on 05 Aug 2007 at 8:35 pm5Rodwen

An excellent guide. My uncle taught me this years ago and I only remembered I could do it a few days ago, so I decided to look it up on the net to see what other people had to say. (My keywords were the sad description “blow through thumbs”)
I’m trying to learn the theme to Doctor Who now, there’s only so much entertainment owl noises can give.
on 07 Aug 2007 at 8:12 am6Hil

LOL on both counts, Rodwen! Good luck with Dr Who!
on 22 Aug 2007 at 4:41 am7daniel

my father used to do that when I was a kid. I wasn’t able to do it back then, but thanks to you twenty years later I did my first dove call, or as we called it the “cuckoo”.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 8:51 am8jess

it’s annoying i can’t seem to be able to do it it is too hard but the instructions on this website are different to what i used to think it was.
i’ll keep trying!
lol
on 06 Dec 2008 at 3:22 am9Nate

this annoying when you cant do it. Its more annoying when you do it once and can’t do it again. Its amazing that the sound comes out of two hands but its really hard to do
on 17 Dec 2008 at 5:33 pm10smitty

i found this hard but after about 10 minutes i kept getting the sounds so thankyou for your really amazing guide.
on 16 Feb 2009 at 11:58 pm11max

why is it so hard 4 me i tried it alot and it just wont work
on 08 Mar 2009 at 1:32 am12ezewquiel luna

cool in a mexican and my dad is great at that so i asked him for strp by step instoction but u helped to
on 27 Mar 2009 at 8:39 pm13bexs

THIS IS RUBBISH THESE INTRUCTIONS R SO HARD THEY MAKE NO FLIPPING SENSE TO ME!!!!!!!!! I DONT HAVE A FOGGY HOW U DO IT AND MY DAD KEEPS ON DOING IT AND IT MAKES NO FLAMMMING SENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET A BETTER GUIDE!

(p.s) sorry everyone if thats really rude i have major anger issues when i cant do anything and everyone else can LOL i will keep tryin!
on 27 Mar 2009 at 8:41 pm14bexs

why is it so hard i can do practicly every other noise and i do a
brilliant duck noise ;D lol hope i learn it soon and i hope everyone else does aswell that carnt do it
on 01 Jul 2009 at 3:54 am15bobby

i cant do it!!! why is this…every1 does it at school, i justcant do it…*help* plz?
any1?
on 23 Oct 2009 at 10:52 pm16Mattie

I have been trying this for months!!! I finally did it! My best friend Alyssa tried to teach me and my friend Emily tried to teach me and so did another student at my school and I couldn’t do it but I tried this and I works!!! LOVE IT!!! I CAN DO IT!!! GREAT GUIDE!!!
on 07 Dec 2009 at 8:57 pm17molly

I cant DO ITTTTTT!!!!!! waaahhh xx
on 23 Dec 2009 at 12:20 pm18emma

i cant get the hang of it my dog could of wrpte better instructions than that
on 23 Jan 2010 at 5:21 am19Emily

Lol, I got it in less then a day.
on 11 Mar 2010 at 4:23 am20Meg

This is the only thing that explained it that easy! I can do it now! THANKS!
on 12 Mar 2010 at 5:55 pm21Briana

I learned this wen I was abt 8…im 16 now but I remember wen my cuz tryed to teach me it took a while about a week…it takes a lot out of you…you get light headed a lot but for al you people out there you need to keep ajusting your thumbs because if the gap between your thumbs is to little it wont work and if its to large it wont work it has to be just right…and make sure you rest your top lip right above your nuckles…Hope this helps

~Brie
any questions e-mail me at ilovenick186@yahoo.com
on 16 Mar 2010 at 9:32 pm22Huw

I just had a go and after 5 mins I got it!
on 02 May 2010 at 6:33 am23josh

fuck this fucking shit.i have to whistle to do it
on 12 Jul 2010 at 10:44 am24James

i cant do it :/ i’ve bin trying for like a couple of mins xD i’ll practice!
on 29 Jul 2010 at 6:24 pm25Ella

Great guide I nearly got it but then I read brianas post and did it yay!!
on 15 Oct 2010 at 10:16 pm26name

Well i learned this from a friend and i t took me about 10-15 secconds to make a sound and about a day to make it sound really good
on 14 Nov 2010 at 1:59 am27a person

This normaly takes about a month or 2. That’s what it took 4 me!!!! :p
on 16 Nov 2010 at 12:25 pm28McRAzy

I can play baby by justin bieber using this technique
on 25 Nov 2010 at 10:17 pm29Linda

I did it! It worked! Ive been trying to find out how u do that!Now i can call out owls……. just kidding! hoot hoot!
on 25 Nov 2010 at 10:18 pm30Linda

It took me only about five minutes to get it!
on 26 Nov 2010 at 7:39 pm31Tommy

Well, I can’t understand the fuss about not doing this. I “learned” in about 30 seconds following the instructions. I live in northern New Hampshire and can’t wait to see what I may be able to attract. Hope it’s not a bear or moose though black bears are pretty easy to deal with. Thanks a lot for the instructions.
on 23 Jan 2011 at 4:07 pm32Rach

these were great instructions – i’ve looked at hundreds, and these were by far the easiest to follow! i can now do it (most of the time)
on 04 Mar 2011 at 12:14 am33yonathan

OMGGGGGGGGGGGG this is so annoying i cant seem 2 get it my brother maybe he can teach me this site sucks
on 01 Apr 2011 at 3:23 pm34Sarah Posey

I got this on my first try im so happy now cause now i can mess with my mom and dad gest a just the gap between your thumbs and you’ll get the hang of it. It takes practes cause i will mess up now an then
on 27 Apr 2011 at 11:58 pm35YES!

Thank YOU!
I swear I could remember my brother doing this like 10 years back ago when I was 10..lol I used to be so jealous of how he could do it..
Now I can too …na na lol

aawh thanks for bringing these memories back.. haha
on 04 May 2011 at 5:26 pm36Person :))

it’s easy how can you not be able to do it DD ???
on 04 May 2011 at 5:27 pm37Person :))

great! instuctions! i <3 it now thnx
on 12 May 2011 at 2:39 pm38Ryan

omg i finally did it…after 10 years. this website was soooooo helpful when you put your hands together, try pressing you thumb knuckles together and angleing your breath down more
on 13 May 2011 at 1:27 am39john johnson

wow! i didnt know anyone else could do this! i’ve been at it for years and i get mourning doves in my yard anytime i want

i’m also starting to do songs and such slowly.

i can do this several ways actually, but i’ve NEVER been able to do it in a way that lets the air out at the bottom of my palms. i only thought thats where it was coming from. but if i have that open AT ALL it either makes it very hard or impossible to make any noise. for me the air comes out the bottom of the hole im blowing into . . . hope that makes it easier for some of you!
on 27 May 2011 at 8:38 pm40bawwy

i cant doo it brrv…this is sooooo annoyin mans
on 16 Jun 2011 at 4:32 pm41me

lmfao i got a wierd squeeky sound when i tryed for like 2 mins!! haha still wanna make the proper sound tho :l
on 16 Jun 2011 at 4:34 pm42me

AHHH MY HANDS HURT NOW!!!
on 28 Aug 2011 at 2:58 pm43neb

blow down on the top of your thumb knuckels
on 17 Oct 2011 at 11:21 pm44Owlie

I have been doing this nonstop since Saturday of October 15 2011 and now on October 17 2011 I can do it perfectly. Just need to adjust your hands to the sweet spot. I have gotten light headed A LOT and my hands got sore but my quick but great accomplishment was worth it, hopefully you all can do it quicker without the pain I face,
– Owlie o,o
on 18 Oct 2011 at 1:03 am45Hil

Good for you!
on 30 Nov 2011 at 9:47 pm46chaz

this really works and now in my class i am mr. popular
on 19 Dec 2011 at 9:03 pm47bob

IT CAN’T BE DONE!!!
on 31 Dec 2011 at 6:38 pm48Crazel

This is hard. I’ve only been trying for a few minutes but I can’t really seem to get it…. Hmm. I actually got it for like, a millisecond but… Maybe I’m just not cut out for it. Ever since I read and saw ‘war horse’ I’ve been dying to try!!! Just blow ON TOP of your knuckles. Good luck!!! XD
on 01 Jan 2012 at 9:45 pm49cya

War horse, anyone?
on 19 Jan 2012 at 4:46 pm50trent

You won’t help you asshole
on 28 Jan 2012 at 8:21 pm51lara

i did it once then couldnt do it again. MOST FRUSTRATING THING. . . EVER!
on 21 Feb 2012 at 8:39 am52Secret

Got it first shot
on 17 Apr 2012 at 7:39 pm53Kellan

I saw a film at school (Skellig) and i wanted to do it but its soooooooooooooooooooooo impossable it feels like im doing it but all i hear is a blowy sound. Ugggggg SO FRUSTRATING :-@
on 17 Apr 2012 at 7:41 pm54Kellan

Das ist langwielig GRRRRRRRRR :-&
on 06 May 2012 at 8:44 am55mimi

cool i’ve also seen the film skellig and that’s why i wanted to try
on 13 May 2012 at 11:48 am56Gwendolyn

I saw it in War Horse And you just have to read the instruction REALLY clearly and it works I couldn`t do it before, now I can ^^ THANK YOU
on 13 May 2012 at 10:05 pm57Hil

My pleasure, glad it was helpful!
on 17 Jun 2012 at 1:46 am58Jordana

I tried about four times and on the fifth try, i’m starting to feel the sound come. I wanted to leanr this, cause i’m actually teaching my horse, beau to coem to the sound. Thanks Alby xD
on 08 Aug 2012 at 7:52 pm59'Ello gov'na

Hi!!
I can’t do the thumb bit :’( How do you get the gap?????? *sigh* Please PLEASE pLeAsE HeLp Me
on 26 Aug 2012 at 8:49 am60Cartoon

Wow im trying my hardest but it seems impossible!! Maybe Im not doing something right……
on 28 Aug 2012 at 9:56 am61Ben

Is this the first song to feature a hand-owl? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEy_6BAnd2w

After 1min 20
on 04 Oct 2012 at 4:47 pm62me

i doesn’t work
on 10 Oct 2012 at 8:56 pm63name 2

these directions suck
on 12 Oct 2012 at 1:18 pm64Abdulrahman

This was very great experience in my life. thank you for being a great help.
on 13 Oct 2012 at 6:22 pm65Joe

I can do it
on 14 Oct 2012 at 3:28 pm66Evalina

This guide was a failure. Couldn’t even get it after 3 tries…
on 22 Oct 2012 at 9:29 am67billibob

i can do the good the bad and the ugly tune
on 24 Oct 2012 at 11:54 pm68nate

I can not get it!!!!!!!!!!! =D D:
on 28 Oct 2012 at 1:39 am69Caleb

Haha do what John Johnson suggested. A lot easier closing up the bottom of your palms and letting the air escape below your lip. Angling the air flow downward is key
on 12 Dec 2012 at 8:24 pm70rhiannon

omg it took me age but i can do it
on 17 Dec 2012 at 3:29 am71andrew

I got it … a tip: i first started to get it wem i really tightened my top hand..
on 20 Dec 2012 at 3:27 am72troutman

It does not work at all been trying for 2 years
on 28 Dec 2012 at 12:07 am73Gerald

Great Guide! I had to open my thumbs a little bit farther to get the noise though.
on 07 Jan 2013 at 3:42 pm74anonynous!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i jyust DON’T GETIT! i kept trying to do this and still am! ifelt like adumb little hamster while puffing out my cheeks like that! and just about when i told myself “face it, owls are more talented that you i suddelnly.. DID IT!!!!!!!!!!! i whooped with joy and then… couldn’t to it again *sigh* ah well thanks anyway this site GREAT!!!!
on 07 Jan 2013 at 3:46 pm75anonynous!!!

and now im trying it AGAIN and i open it too much and ended up spitting on keyboard. yuck yuck yuck.
on 18 Jan 2013 at 4:53 am76Maxwell

yeah it took me a good 30 minutes to do it. I got all mad at my dad for not showing me how to do it. So i looked on at least 30 website and this was the one that made it work. I have matered the normall noise but still working on pitching
on 20 Feb 2013 at 12:59 am77Chloe

This works great! The first time,… Then you just loose it.
on 21 Feb 2013 at 4:54 am78person

Thank you so so so so so so so so much i got it in like 10 mins it is awesome!
on 22 Feb 2013 at 8:03 pm79esha

Awesome I’m reading Skellig witch has this in . I did it straight away
on 05 Mar 2013 at 8:56 pm80Harry

Guys its really not that hard My counslers taught me at camp last year and I got it on my first try. This is a really good guide.
on 18 May 2013 at 1:15 am81Britt

Just thought this might help a few people out there. I attempted to do the owl call with my hands through this guide with much frustration. As my dad was showing off how well he could to it.
I noticed that he was BENDING his thumbs slightly and saw that he varied the angle to get a better pitch. So I just bent my thumbs (making sure that there were NO cracks anywhere but just above my wrists where my hands met and my thumbs) and blew DOWN into my hand and heard a perfect reverberation of sound. Just keep moving your thumbs and mouth around and you’ll get it.
Hope this helped someone.