Many species of birds in the United States sing beautiful songs at night. Nighttime bird songs serve several purposes, including defending territories, attracting mates, and signaling danger. While most birds are quiet at night, nocturnal species and even some diurnal songbirds will sing after dark under certain circumstances. This article explores some of the most vocal night singers across different regions of the USA.
Reasons Birds Sing at Night
Birds rely heavily on their songs, using them to communicate important information. Singing serves different functions depending on the species, the time of year, and other factors. Here are some of the main reasons birds vocalize after dark:
Defending Territories
Many birds sing at night to warn rival males away from their territories. They may sing all night long at the start of the breeding season to scare away competitors from nesting areas. Territorial singing is common in robins, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds.
Attracting Mates
Nocturnal love songs help male birds attract females for breeding. Night singers will call out to potential mates with unique courtship songs. These songs allow females to evaluate and compare potential partners. Species like mockingbirds may sing for hours on end, hoping to lure a receptive female.
Communicating
Birds may use night vocalizations to keep in contact with their mate or young. Calls help birds keep track of each other in the dark and defend their territory together. Night signaling is frequent in species like finches, blackbirds, and swallows.
Defending Against Predators
Birds will make alarm calls at night to warn others about approaching predators like owls or cats. Warning calls prompt other birds to take evasive action. Some species take turns singing through the night to keep watch.
Disorientation
Birds may become disoriented and sing at unusual hours if they are attracted by bright lights at night. Light pollution can disrupt natural circadian rhythms. Disoriented birds may sing while attempting to reorient themselves in the dark.
Common Night Singers By Region
While most birds in the U.S. are diurnal, some species are primarily or fully nocturnal. Other birds exhibit crepuscular behavior, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Here are some night singers you may hear after dark in different areas:
Northeast
- Northern Mockingbird
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
- Common Nighthawk
- American Woodcock
- Black-crowned Night Heron
The northern mockingbird is known for its elaborate nighttime songs. Males sing constantly at night during breeding season. The whip-poor-will and common nighthawk get their names from the sounds of their cries.
Southeast
- Chuck-will’s-widow
- Barred Owl
- Northern Bobwhite
- Eastern Screech Owl
- Carolina Wren
The chuck-will’s-widow is a crepuscular bird named for its distinctive night call. Other singers include the barred owl with its distinctive “who cooks for you” hooting.
Midwest
- American Robin
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Field Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- American Woodcock
American robins and blackbirds start singing before dawn. Various sparrows and the plaintive woodcock also vocalize at night across the Midwest.
Southwest
- Common Poorwill
- Mexican Whip-poor-will
- Greater Roadrunner
- Common Pauraque
- Western Screech Owl
The poorwills are nocturnal birds named for their wailing cries. Roadrunners and pauraques also vocalize after dark in desert environments.
West Coast
- Spotted Towhee
- California Thrasher
- Northern Mockingbird
- Western Screech Owl
- Great Horned Owl
Spotted towhees and California thrashers start singing before sunrise. Mockingbirds sing persistently through the night along the Pacific Coast as well.
Nocturnal Bird Songs By Species
Here is more detail about some of the most vocal nocturnal bird species:
Whip-poor-wills
Whip-poor-wills are named after their repetitive nighttime cries of “whip-poor-will.” There are two species in North America: the eastern whip-poor-will and the Mexican whip-poor-will of the southwest. These nocturnal birds feed on insects during the night. Their camouflage plumage helps them blend into leaf litter on the forest floor during the day when they roost.
Nighthawks
Like the whip-poor-wills, nighthawks are crepuscular birds best identified by their calls. Common nighthawks make a loud “peent” sound. The call of the Antillean nighthawk is a sharp “crack.” Both hunt for aerial insects on the wing at dawn and dusk or moonlit nights.
Owls
While known for their haunting hoots, not all owl species vocalize at night. Some of the most vocal owls in North America include the barred owl, eastern screech owl, great horned owl, and spotted owl. Owls use their songs to claim territories and attract mates.
Mockingbirds
Northern mockingbirds sing more energetically at night than during the day. Unmated males may sing throughout the night during breeding season to attract females. Both males and females will also sing at night to defend their territory.
Thrashers
The California thrasher is most vocal before sunrise and at dusk, singing its repertoire of short phrases repeatedly from treetops. Its cousin, the brown thrasher of the east, similarly sings by night. Both species sing to define territories and communicate.
Nightjars
Whip-poor-wills belong to the nightjar family, which includes over 100 nocturnal bird species worldwide. In addition to whip-poor-wills, the common nighthawk, common poorwill, and common pauraque are night-singing members of this family in North America.
Sparrows
Many sparrow species sing at night. The songs of field, fox, grasshopper, and song sparrows may ring out after dark as they defend territories. Sparrows often take turns vocalizing through the night in “dawn choruses.”
Wrens
The bubbly, complex songs of wrens like the Carolina wren sometimes extend into the nighttime hours. Their loud voices carry well in darkness. Male wrens may sing all night to maintain their territories.
Grosbeaks
Rose-breasted and black-headed grosbeaks occasionally sing at night. Their warbling songs overlap with the dawn chorus. Males sing primarily to defend nesting areas.
Blackbirds
Red-winged blackbirds are among the earliest birds to sing each morning. Their conk-la-ree songs can be heard before dawn as they defend territories from perches like cattails. Other blackbird species like the tri-colored blackbird may also sing at night.
Identifying Nighttime Bird Songs
Trying to identify nighttime vocalizations can be challenging. Here are some tips:
- Get to know your local species’ calls and songs.
- Note the time and singing patterns.
- Record and replay songs.
- Listen for accompanying chatter and flight sounds.
- Pay attention to unique phrases and rhythms.
- Consider the habitat and range.
- Use audio identification apps and guides.
With practice, you can learn to recognize nocturnal singers by memory. Consider location, breeding seasons, and unique song attributes as clues.
Top 10 Night Singing Birds
Here are 10 of the most vocal avian night singers in the U.S:
- Northern Mockingbird
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
- Barred Owl
- Common Nighthawk
- Chuck-will’s-widow
- American Robin
- Common Poorwill
- Western Screech Owl
- Spotted Towhee
- Northern Bobwhite
This list highlights some of the most persistent nocturnal singers across major regions from coast to coast. Learn to recognize their unique nighttime vocalizations.
Conclusion
Birds sing at night for important biological reasons like defending territories, attracting mates, bonding, navigating, and warning others of danger. Nocturnal species and some diurnal songbirds vocalize after dark under certain circumstances across their ranges. With some field experience, anyone can learn to identify birds by their nighttime calls and songs. Understanding the purposes behind avian nocturnal singing enhances our appreciation of their complex behaviors and adaptations for survival. Paying attention to night singers helps connect us more deeply with the living world after sunset. The next time you hear birds calling into the night, take a moment to appreciate their songs in the dark.