Both nocturnal birds (birds that are most active at night) and diurnal birds (birds that are most active during the day) call for mates at night since it’s quiet and there’s less competition. Diurnal male birds living in noisy daytime areas, like robins, wrens, and sparrows, will often save their mating songs for the evening hours. The barred owl is one of the best known nocturnal singers in the U. S. During mating season, they use a variety of rowdy gurgles, chirps, cackles, and hoots to compete for mates during the night. [2] X Research source
Robins are diurnal birds, but they’re known to keep chirping into the warm spring evenings. They’re distantly related to nightingales (which are nocturnal birds), and will sometimes sing along with their cousins (and join in their warning choruses) late at night. [4] X Research source If the chirping is keeping you up at night, consider investing in an ultrasonic bird repeller. This gadget emits a high-frequency noise that birds hate, but that’s inaudible to the human ear.
If birds tend to congregate in the tree right outside your bedroom window, try hosing the tree down with liquid bird repellent to keep them away.
Diurnal birds spend most of the day protecting their territory, and that can spill over into nighttime, as well. Warblers, loons, meadowlarks, and willets are known to get very vocal when staking their claim to a particular area. If you live in the northern U. S. , you’ve probably heard the common loon’s haunting and wolf-like wail late at night. Male screech owls use a loud, whinnying call to scare off nighttime intruders that enter their territory. [7] X Research source
Song thrushes, dunnocks, and robins are diurnal birds known to extend their chirping into the evening hours. Robins are especially vulnerable to dim and even artificial light; once the sun goes down, they’ll keep on foraging and chirping as long as there’s some kind of light available.
If a member of the flock finds a good food source, it might chirp loudly so the others know. [10] X Research source If you want the night chirping to stop, remove any bird feeders and water sources in your yard. Birds are more likely to roost and nest in areas close to food/water sources.
Northern mockingbirds have a wide range of chirps and sounds in their repertoire—in fact, they’re capable of remembering at least 200 songs. They’re able to mimic the songs of other birds easily and are famous for rocking out late at night, especially during full moons. [12] X Research source
