The song of the male Pel's fishing owl is a deep, sonorous, horn-like boom, first a single and then a higher pitched "huhuhu". The male also utters a ringed hoot, much higher pitched than those of most eagle-owls, followed by a deep, soft grunt: "whoommmm-wot" or "hooomm-hut". The calls of the male are repeated every 10 to 20 seconds and can be heard from up to away. While singing, the male's throat and breast are often highly inflated. The female's songs are similar but are higher pitched and even in a double-note, i.e. "hoot-oot". Females and young at the nest wail a shrill "wheeoouu" while anticipating food.