There are a few birds native to Florida that are known for their loud, screaming calls at night. The most likely culprits for nighttime shrieks and squawks are owls, nighthawks, chuck-will’s-widows, and mottled ducks.
Owls
Owls are well-known for their haunting nighttime vocalizations. Several species of owls common in Florida forests and swamps produce ear-piercing screeches, hoots, and shrieks after dark.
The barred owl is likely the most familiar source of night screaming. These medium-sized owls produce the classic “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” call that echoes through the woods. Barred owls are found throughout the state of Florida.
The eastern screech owl is the smallest owl in Florida, but its whinnying, trilling songs punch above its weight. These nocturnal hunters warble a spooky series of whistles and shrieks that can seem unearthly at night.
Other owls that may scream or hoot at night in Florida include:
- Great horned owl
- Barn owl
- Short-eared owl
- Burrowing owl
What do owl calls sound like?
Here are examples of the night screams and hoots of Florida’s owls:
- Barred owl: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” – a rhythmic series of hoots and shrieks
- Eastern screech owl: A shivering, whinnying song of trills and whistles
- Great horned owl: Deep hoots in a series: “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoooooo”
- Barn owl: A loud, raspy scream: “SSSSSSSSSSCREEEEEEEEECH”
Owl Call Identification
Use this table to help identify night owl screams and calls in Florida:
Owl Species | Call Description | Call Audio Example |
---|---|---|
Barred Owl | Rhythmic series of hoots: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” | |
Eastern Screech Owl | Whinnying song of trills and whistles | |
Great Horned Owl | Deep rhythmic hoots: “hoo-hoo-hoo hoo hoooooo” | |
Barn Owl | Loud, raspy scream: “SSSSSSSSSSCREEEEEEEEECH” |
Nighthawks
Nighthawks are unique, crepuscular birds with loud, buzzing calls. In Florida, the common nighthawk and the Chuck-will’s-widow are regularly heard calling into the night.
Common Nighthawk
Common nighthawks make a loud, nasal “peent” call as they swoop and dive overhead at dawn and dusk. In the darkness, these buzzy peents take on an eerie tone.
Listen to the common nighthawk’s nighttime “peent” call:
Chuck-will’s-widow
The Chuck-will’s-widow is named for its haunting nocturnal call: a loud, repetitive “chuck-willl’s-widow” that echoes through southern pine forests. These nightjars call relentlessly all night during breeding season.
Listen to the Chuck-will’s-widow’s namesake call:
Mottled Ducks
The mottled duck is a large, non-migratory duck species found in Florida wetlands. Males have a loud, raspy call that carries over water. Females make a hoarse quacking sound.
Listen to the piercing cries of a male mottled duck:
Duck Call Identification
Use this table to distinguish the calls of Florida’s loud duck species:
Bird Species | Call Description | Call Audio Example |
---|---|---|
Male Mottled Duck | Loud, raspy cries | |
Female Mottled Duck | Hoarse quacking |
Conclusion
The raucous nighttime calls of owls, nighthawks, Chuck-will’s-widows, and mottled ducks are all likely candidates for disruptive night screaming and squawking in Florida. Familiarity with their vocalizations can help identify the culprits keeping you up at night.
Owls produce some of the most blood-curdling shrieks, while nighthawks, Chuck-will’s-widows, and male mottled ducks all emit jarring buzzes, rasps, and cries after dark. Listen for the tell-tale “Who cooks for you?” call of a barred owl, the nasal “peent” of a common nighthawk, the repetitive “chuck-will’s-widow” song, or the jarring squawk of a male mottled duck to determine what Florida bird is screaming into the night.