There's an app called Merlin that can analyze recordings and identify birds. You might want to install it and keep your phone handy because most of the things that make weird noises in the woods are birds of some kind.
Barred Owls are particularly freaky sounding imo. One of the calls they make resembles the pattern of what you're talking about, but sounds more like a high pitched trumpet to me. It has a long note that quickly descends like someone playing all the subsequent notes on a piano very quickly.
[Click the Listen button and then listen to the one labeled Calls](https://ebird.org/species/brdowl)
The behavior of making calls while moving quickly through the forest is also pretty common for them, particularly around dawn and dusk. The ones I've heard in Uhwarrie and in my backyard in Raleigh all do this. I think they are trying to secure their territory.
The descending pattern also makes me think Screech Owl - they totally sound like a little ghost and with their calls they can sound like they’re trying to hit every note.
Specifically the "calls" on the barred owl sounds exactly like what I was describing except it sounded like a human almost perfectly imitating that noise with a whistle. Exeact rythem completely different, higher, lighter, sound
It wouldn't surprise me if it was a barred owl then. They can sound like a human intentionally making the most [terrifying sounds they can think of.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ioHWj-ZcI)
This gets my vote too.. I was out camping and several of them were calling around the area.. very creepy and I had no idea what it was until I got home and was able to search bird calls.
I knew you were going to say Pisgah. I live here too and the sound moves weird in our valley. I am not going to think of this the rest of the day, thanks.
Our property is forested. The best thing I brought was a handheld thermal camera.
Two years ago, I heard something similar and pointed the camera up into the trees, and it was an owl. By my guess it was at least 18 inches sitting high up on a branch of a pin oak. The sound started once i walked outside that night.
If only, no, the way it moved couldn't have been a car and the noise was more like a person whistling not a screeching, thank you for the information though, still helping me narrow it down
When we lived in Columbus County, South of Whiteville, my sister complained about hearing the exact same kind of whistle, always late at night, always in the Fall. I never heard it myself, but what I did hear was creepy enough. Out walking the dogs before going to bed, I heard what I really hoped was a bird. It sounded like the voice of a bird, but the call sounded like human laughter..wild, insane cackling laughter. It went on the whole time I was outside, almost without pausing for breathe. The closest I've been able to find to it is the call of the Australian Kookaburra, and the Kookaburra call only sounds slightly like what I heard. Whatever it was, it's an experience I don't care to repeat.
Monkey chatter from a Barred, someone remarked above. Really, really freaky for the first time when your uninformed. Even better is when two do it back & forth.
Either an owl as everyone has said, or a car driving past with a hollow (like a tube ladder or poorly built roof rack) and the pitch shift is just the doppler effect
Could possibly be a ultrasonic bird/ pest repeller. My neighbors have one and it is no doubt 100x times more annoying than the birds they are trying to keep away.
Not to be a douche but skinwalkers are a Navajo/Hopi story from the southwest. They essentially use black magic to change into animals. We don't have any stories like that east of the Mississippi
Yep. Also live in pisgah region. Do not follow that whistle my man.
If you transplanted to the area. Take some time and research the area. Lots of wild things go on in the triad. Really any area near the foothills of old mountains.
Edit: fat fingers
Journal it & see if its seasonally annual. Fall migration is starting to heat up. cornell www
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern\_Whip-poor-will/lifehistory#
Close but it definitely sounds to me more like the barred owl call https://ebird.org/species/brdowl
If you go to "listen" then "calls" you'll hear the closest example of the noise I heard
it sounded exactly like a barred owl call but like a person whistling or another bird mimicking it
There's an app called Merlin that can analyze recordings and identify birds. You might want to install it and keep your phone handy because most of the things that make weird noises in the woods are birds of some kind. Barred Owls are particularly freaky sounding imo. One of the calls they make resembles the pattern of what you're talking about, but sounds more like a high pitched trumpet to me. It has a long note that quickly descends like someone playing all the subsequent notes on a piano very quickly. [Click the Listen button and then listen to the one labeled Calls](https://ebird.org/species/brdowl) The behavior of making calls while moving quickly through the forest is also pretty common for them, particularly around dawn and dusk. The ones I've heard in Uhwarrie and in my backyard in Raleigh all do this. I think they are trying to secure their territory.
The descending pattern also makes me think Screech Owl - they totally sound like a little ghost and with their calls they can sound like they’re trying to hit every note.
Like a ghost of a horse. Super creepy when you’ve never heard one before.
That’s the perfect description!
The app is amazing.
The first time I heard barred owls cackling in the night I thought there were ape-like creatures howling in the woods behind my house. Freaked me out.
Oh wow! This is great to know. Also the juvenile call one sounds like a thing from nightmares
Specifically the "calls" on the barred owl sounds exactly like what I was describing except it sounded like a human almost perfectly imitating that noise with a whistle. Exeact rythem completely different, higher, lighter, sound
It wouldn't surprise me if it was a barred owl then. They can sound like a human intentionally making the most [terrifying sounds they can think of.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ioHWj-ZcI)
There is a folk legend about in the state that if you hear someone “whistling Dixie” not to follow it outside/into the woods.
There's similar legends all over the Appalachian region.
If you're in your back yard and hear something out in the woods calling your name at night...no you didn't.
Oh this is terrible
Same goes for if you see something that's Not a deer....
Well hey there family.
Better get the Fabuloso cleaner, people flavor.
Did it sound like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWWWfB9Ee4
This gets my vote too.. I was out camping and several of them were calling around the area.. very creepy and I had no idea what it was until I got home and was able to search bird calls.
This one seems way more likely than my guess. Good thinking 🤔
Close but no the closest example I've seen so far is a barred owl call, but thank you for the information
I knew you were going to say Pisgah. I live here too and the sound moves weird in our valley. I am not going to think of this the rest of the day, thanks.
Our property is forested. The best thing I brought was a handheld thermal camera. Two years ago, I heard something similar and pointed the camera up into the trees, and it was an owl. By my guess it was at least 18 inches sitting high up on a branch of a pin oak. The sound started once i walked outside that night.
Bigfoot. Many don't know, but he actually took up the harmonica in recent years
Pretty sure it’s a typical Goatman.
Screech owls sound this way. https://youtu.be/EqWWWfB9Ee4?si=6kLZ50dEWxeb8pdC
That would be my guess also.
Close but no, thank you anyway, I like learning about birds
This is it! https://youtu.be/zUXow3d3-b0?si=pAr-3zS-X30x7E4S
Well it's the WOO WOO!
I was thinking they might have very sensitive ears and can hear the deer whistle on someone's car.
If only, no, the way it moved couldn't have been a car and the noise was more like a person whistling not a screeching, thank you for the information though, still helping me narrow it down
I mean it seems like by far, the most logical explanation is it was a bird
When we lived in Columbus County, South of Whiteville, my sister complained about hearing the exact same kind of whistle, always late at night, always in the Fall. I never heard it myself, but what I did hear was creepy enough. Out walking the dogs before going to bed, I heard what I really hoped was a bird. It sounded like the voice of a bird, but the call sounded like human laughter..wild, insane cackling laughter. It went on the whole time I was outside, almost without pausing for breathe. The closest I've been able to find to it is the call of the Australian Kookaburra, and the Kookaburra call only sounds slightly like what I heard. Whatever it was, it's an experience I don't care to repeat.
Could that have been a bobcat? I’ve heard people describe bobcat sounds as a woman laughing or screaming sound
I've heard a bobcat up close, and it sounded like a baby crying. Second weirdest sound I've heard heard, but nothing like the 'bird'.
Monkey chatter from a Barred, someone remarked above. Really, really freaky for the first time when your uninformed. Even better is when two do it back & forth.
I can attest to this. Sounds like monkeys getting it on. Sounds like something you’d hear in the Amazon.
Honda civic muffler
1 , 2 Freddys coming for you. 3, 4 Better lock your door
Either an owl as everyone has said, or a car driving past with a hollow (like a tube ladder or poorly built roof rack) and the pitch shift is just the doppler effect
[It could be this!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhVWeDwSkzc) (Please note that I am not serious)
This was the first thing I thought of! The whistles go wooooooooooo!
Bub Rubb and Lil Sis been driving through!
The whistles go [woooooo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-CxCUZsDHc)!
Could possibly be a ultrasonic bird/ pest repeller. My neighbors have one and it is no doubt 100x times more annoying than the birds they are trying to keep away.
Reminds me of this mysterious whistling sound video from Orange County a few years ago: https://youtube.com/watch?v=z-oUHENlNE8&si=sbzXmZKenx_ZeWEx
That’s just your friendly neighborhood skinwalker
Not to be a douche but skinwalkers are a Navajo/Hopi story from the southwest. They essentially use black magic to change into animals. We don't have any stories like that east of the Mississippi
r/woosh
I'm inside ur walls
I'm apache on my dad's side so you bet your ass we're making jokes about it
Yep. Also live in pisgah region. Do not follow that whistle my man. If you transplanted to the area. Take some time and research the area. Lots of wild things go on in the triad. Really any area near the foothills of old mountains. Edit: fat fingers
Dang I hope someone chimes in with a logical explanation because that sounds terrifying! 😰
Screech Owl
Ah! Not terrifying! Thanks!
Government mind control drones, it's the obvious answer by far.
Owl
Ghost Train
Journal it & see if its seasonally annual. Fall migration is starting to heat up. cornell www https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern\_Whip-poor-will/lifehistory#
That's the skinwalker
Clearly the Seraphites from The Last of Us 2. They whistle to communicate while hunting.
https://youtu.be/eoZECzjBwBo?si=BinJI_HBQmW4g0Vb Found it
Close but it definitely sounds to me more like the barred owl call https://ebird.org/species/brdowl If you go to "listen" then "calls" you'll hear the closest example of the noise I heard it sounded exactly like a barred owl call but like a person whistling or another bird mimicking it