California is home to a diverse array of bird species, some of which are known for their melodious nighttime singing. When hearing beautiful birdsong in the dead of night, California residents often wonder “What bird is that?” While there are a few different nocturnal songbirds found in the state, one of the most likely culprits of nighttime birdsong is the Northern Mockingbird.
The Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a medium-sized songbird found throughout much of the United States. In California, mockingbirds are common year-round residents of urban and suburban areas, parks, and open woodlands.
Mockingbirds are best known for their incredible ability to mimic the sounds of other birds. A single mockingbird can memorize over 200 different songs! They are able to replicate the songs of other species so accurately that they often fool bird watchers. While mockingbird song repertoire includes imitations of other birds, they also sing a variety of original songs.
Northern Mockingbirds have gray upperparts and whitish undersides. Their most distinguishing feature is their two white wing patches that are visible when Spreading Wings flying. They have long legs and tails and a thin, curved bill.
Mockingbird Nocturnal Singing
One of the most intriguing behaviors of the Northern Mockingbird is their habit of singing late into the night and early morning hours. During breeding season, which spans spring and summer in California, male mockingbirds often sing throughout the night. This impressive nighttime singing has led many Californians to ponder “What bird sings all night?”
Male mockingbirds tend to sing more frequently at night once they have established a breeding territory and attracted a mate. Their nighttime singing serves several purposes:
Purpose of Night Singing | Explanation |
---|---|
Attracting mates | Unmated males sing at night to try to attract females to their territory for breeding. |
Guarding territory | Singing at night lets other mockingbirds know the territory is occupied. |
Communicating with mate | Males sing to strengthen the pair bond and signal their location to their mate. |
Guarding mate | Males sing to ward off intruding males that might threaten their mate. |
In addition to singing for mating and territorial purposes, mockingbirds sometimes sing softly through the night while turning and opening their wings. This nighttime wing-spreading behavior may help release heat and keep the mockingbirds cool.
Identifying the Night Singer
Northern Mockingbirds have a vast repertoire of songs and sounds, so nighttime mockingbird songs can vary dramatically. However, there are some distinct qualities of mockingbird night singing that can help identify them:
– Repeating song phrases – Mockingbirds often repeat a song phrase 2-6 times before switching to a new one.
– Mimicking other species – Mimicked songs of other birds, insects, or amphibians are often interspersed with original phrases.
– Varied pacing – Mockingbird songs have an irregular pacing with alternating bursts of rapid phrases and pauses.
– Persistence – Mockingbird night singing is persistent, especially during mating season. Males may sing repeatedly through the night.
– Volume – Mockingbird night singing is often loud and bright, allowing the songs to be heard at a distance.
To confirm the night singer’s identity, listen for common mockingbird calls like chattering “chuck” notes and harsh “phee-eur” alarm calls during the daytime. Mockingbirds make a wide variety of calls distinct from their diverse songs. Seeing the singer during daylight will also clinch the ID based on the mockingbird’s unmistakable appearance.
Other Nocturnal Singers
While Northern Mockingbirds are responsible for much of the night singing in urban and suburban California, they aren’t the only birds that vocalize after dark. Here are a few other nocturnal songsters that contribute to California’s late-night choruses:
– Western Screech-Owl – These small owls with ear tufts sing soft, melancholy whistled songs most often from mid-winter to late spring.
– Barn Owl – A distinct, shrill rasping “sssccccrrreeee” call is made by these ghostly pale owls at night near barns and other structures.
– American Robin – Robins sing cheerily at dawn but also give quieter subsongs and calls at night, especially when nesting.
– Song Sparrow – One of California’s most common songbirds. Sings shorter, simpler songs at night.
– Common Poorwill – This nocturnal bird makes a persistent, whistled “poor-will” call repeatedly through the night.
– Killdeer – Killdeer are shorebirds that vocalize a loud, piercing “kill-deer” call around the clock to defend their ground nests.
Conclusion
The Northern Mockingbird is responsible for much of the prolific night singing heard in neighborhoods across California. Unmated males persistently sing through the night during breeding season to attract a mate and defend their territories. The mockingbird’s vast repertoire allows it to sing hundreds of different phrases, often mimicking other species. Its loud, varied songs repeated persistently through the night are a distinctive clue to identifying the night singer as a Northern Mockingbird. While mockingbirds are the most likely culprits, other birds like robins, owls, sparrows, and poorwills also contribute to California’s late-night bird chorus. So next time you hear beautiful birdsong in the dead of night, listen closely. If it’s a repetitive, loud, varied singer, chances are it’s a Northern Mockingbird!