The refrain of a Common Raven drove a man to madness in Edgar Allen Poe’s storied poem. Though the call, “Nevermore,” was Poe’s invention, birds real cries can often be just as chilling. Here weve compiled 10 of the most unsettling nighttime notes, ghoulish groans, and banshee-like wails from across the bird world. And to make it even more of a challenge, two are not North American species. See if you can match the eerie sounds to their sources, and then check the bottom of the page for the right answers.
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Birds are often associated with the morning hours, as this is when they are most vocal. However, certain species begin to sing later in the day, and it can be quite eerie or enchanting to hear them sing at night.
Some species, like the Eastern Whip-poor-will, are nocturnal and only communicate after dark because that’s when they’re awake. So why do birds sing at night? Others, such as Northern Mockingbirds, are more vocal during the night when they are trying to find a mate. They are normally active during the day. In both cases, the night holds advantages. There aren’t many background noises and there isn’t as much vocal competition with other birds.
However, it would be impossible to include all the birds that sing at night, or at least late into the evening, on this list. Rather, we’ve compiled a playlist of the most enthralling late-night bird songs in North America by fusing well-known late-night bird sounds with a few lesser-known but equally inspiring nocturnal melodies. Enjoy!.
Although the Eastern Whip-poor-will is not technically a songbird, generations have been enchanted by its legendary call, which gave rise to its name. Males engaged in breeding continue to sing long into spring and early summer nights, keeping the birds that remain in the eastern United S. range.
Adeptly camouflaged, these nocturnal birds are more often heard than seen. But even that has become more difficult in recent years. Although still considered common in some heavily wooded regions, Eastern Whip-poor-will populations have declined by 75 percent over the last 50 years, and the species has been added to the State of North Americas Birds Watch List. The cause? Collisions with autos and insect declines may play a role, but the loss of forests to agriculture and development is likely the main driver.
In order to address the decline of aerial insectivores, such as whip-poor-wills, ABC and partners are working. Our Migratory Bird Program also seeks to address the causes of the decline in many other bird species during their life cycles, including whip-poor-wills.
Eastern Whip-poor-will (Doug Welch, XC469348. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/469348.)
The peculiar and amazing combination of cackles, clucks, whistles, and hoots is the Yellow-breasted Chats’ “song.” These birds do sing at night even though they are not nocturnal, especially during their spring breeding season. Sometimes, frustrated birdwatchers liken the sounds of covert conversations to jeering laughter.
Loss of habitat threatens chats, as it does so many other bird species. Their population has decreased by 37% in the past 50 years. The species is currently classified as threatened, endangered, or of special concern in a number of states as a result.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative and other managed forestry initiatives by ABC and partners help to create and maintain semi-open habitat, which is beneficial to yellow-breasted chats. Yellow-breasted Chats gain from a number of habitat management initiatives intended to support the fast declining Golden-winged Warbler population.
Yellow-breasted Chat (Paul Marvin, XC486580. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/486580.)
One of the most well-known nighttime bird sounds in the United States is the Barred Owl’s distinctive “who-cooks-for-you” call. S. However, these hoots are merely a tiny portion of the diverse repertoire of raptors. Barred Owls perform boisterous duets during mating season, combining a variety of gurgles, caws, hoots, and cackles.
When hunting, however, Barred Owls use silence to their advantage. They can fly almost silently thanks to their special feather structure, which includes microscopic serrations on their flight feathers. The exceptional night vision combined with their silent flight makes Barred Owls exceptional predators.
These owls, which were formerly mostly found in mature forests in eastern North America, are now widespread throughout the Pacific Northwest. The number of Barred Owls has increased by 1 as their range has grown. 5 percent annually over the last 50 years.
Barred Owl (Lance A. M. Benner, XC500514. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/500514.)
The Common Loon’s mournful and unforgettable yodel is not its only claim to fame; few bird sounds are as remarkable. Common Loons are often heard making wolf-like wails and cackling tremolos when night falls, which are equally menacing.
Common Loon populations in the northern U. S. have significantly decreased as a result of pollution from coal-burning power plants. Similar to Bald Eagles and Ospreys, Common Loons consume fish, which means they absorb toxins like mercury whole as they move up the food chain.
Additionally, migratory loons may be at risk of collisions, especially when wind turbines are located near lakes or other large bodies of water. ABC and associates sued the United States in federal court in December 2019. S. Department of Energy and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop building wind turbines on Lake Erie that might endanger migrating birds, including Common Loons.
Common Loon (Jelmer Poelstra, XC83547. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/83547.)
Eastern Screech-Owls create a remarkable variety of nighttime sounds, much like the Barred Owl. Males use their whinnying call to warn off potential invaders when defending their territory. Pairs and families will use cooing tremolo calls to communicate. Eastern Screech-Owls are distinct from other nighttime chirping birds in that they can bark, hoot, and, of course, screech.
Even though they are still regarded as a common species, Eastern Screech-Owl populations are declining in some places. These owls are susceptible to pesticides if they nest in suburbs and orchards, and they frequently suffer injuries from collisions with glass and cars. In many places, habitat loss poses a threat to many species, including
Several options are provided by ABC’s Bird-Smart Glass program to safeguard Eastern Screech-Owls. Additionally, our Bird-Friendly Living page offers suggestions for safeguarding birds and their habitats. You might even think about constructing a screech-owl nest box if your yard is wooded.
Eastern Screech-Owl (Will Sweet, XC453924. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/453924.)
Throughout the spring, when the birds are breeding, the Upland Sandpipers’ ecstatic song reverberates across the prairie. Males usually use this melody, which combines ethereal whistles with wild trilling, and they vocalize well into the night. The Upland Sandpiper is not a nocturnal species and can be seen during the day, much like other night-singing birds.
While overall populations of Upland Sandpipers have not changed over the past 50 years, local declines have caused nearly two dozen states and provinces in the U S and Canada to designate the bird as a vulnerable species Each year, Upland Sandpipers spend the winter in South America, and hunting continues to be an issue along their migration paths. However, the main danger they face is habitat loss due to the conversion of natural grasslands into crops.
By supporting policies that encourage sustainable grazing methods and the preservation of grasslands, restore formerly farmed areas, and minimize the use of herbicides, ABC is assisting Upland Sandpipers and other grassland birds in the United States. We are collaborating with regional partners in Mexico to make sure that the vital grassland habitat for sandpipers that migrate is adequately safeguarded.
Upland Sandpiper (Paul Marvin, XC299641. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/299641.)
Northern Mockingbirds can recognize almost 200 different songs, making them into living musical machines. These skilled impersonators draw inspiration from other birds’ songs and occasionally perform their melodies nonstop. Usually during mating season, this occurs, but full moons also arouse these crooners.
While Northern Mockingbirds are still widespread in many areas of the United S. over the past 50 years, their numbers have decreased by more than 20 percent. This is not the first decline in their life; in the 19th century, mockingbirds were almost completely eradicated from some areas of their range due to the high value placed on their musical abilities.
ABC and its partners maintain habitat across a large portion of the United States to support healthy populations of Northern Mockingbirds. S. range. Additionally, our Cats Indoors program is assisting in the decrease of cat-related fatalities, which account for about 2 4 billion birds annually in the United States, including Northern Mockingbirds S.
Northern Mockingbird (Omar Suárez García, XC435872. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/435872.)
Don’t be afraid—download our free Audubon bird guide app to learn the sounds and habits of over 800 species in North America.
The refrain of a Common Raven drove a man to madness in Edgar Allen Poe’s storied poem. Though the call, “Nevermore,” was Poe’s invention, birds real cries can often be just as chilling. Here weve compiled 10 of the most unsettling nighttime notes, ghoulish groans, and banshee-like wails from across the bird world. And to make it even more of a challenge, two are not North American species. See if you can match the eerie sounds to their sources, and then check the bottom of the page for the right answers.
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