How to Hoot With One's Hands

If you're a bird watcher or enjoy catching owls, you need to know how to hoot with one's hands. With practice, you can mimic an owl hoot with just your voice and your hands.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Place all of the fingers (not the thumb) on one hand into the webbing between the thumb and the fingers of the other hand.
2. Fold your fingers down so they're on top of your hands.
3. Move your thumbs so they're pointing straight out away from your body. Place your thumbs next to each other.
4. Raise the knuckles on your thumbs up slightly so there's a small hole between your thumbs. Pull your lips over your teeth slightly.
5. Blow into that small hole between your thumbs. Start with a small puff of air and then increase it until you get the sound you want. If done correctly, the air will move around your hands and then puff out at the bottom of your folded hands.
6. Practice lots. It's difficult to hoot with your hands. You may need to blow harder or softer and your hands may need to be tighter or more relaxed.
7. Try raising or lowering the fingers of your hand at the bottom, once you figure out how to hoot with one's hands. This alters the call and makes it more realistic.

Tips & Warnings

• Many owl experts use recorded owl calls or hand-made whistles to mimic owl calls and help them find owls.