There are a few birds that are known for their loud, siren-like calls at night. The most likely culprits are large owls or nightjars. Owls are famous for their haunting hoots and screeches that can sound like someone screaming in the dark. Nightjars, on the other hand, make an eerie buzzing or booming sound. Let’s take a closer look at some suspects and get to the bottom of this mystery:
Suspect #1: Barred Owl
The barred owl is a large owl found throughout North America. They get their name from the horizontal brown and white stripes on their chest. Barred owls are highly vocal, especially during breeding season between late fall and early spring. Their most recognizable call sounds like: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” It starts with a low, gravelly “hoo hoo hoooooo” that rises in pitch at the end. This call can echo through the forest at night, sounding like someone screaming “Help!” in the distance. When calling back and forth, barred owl pairs sound like they are yelling at each other in the dark woods!
Suspect #2: Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern screech owl is a small owl with big vocals! Despite its name, its most common call is not a screech at all. It makes a haunting, trembling whinny or trill that descends in pitch. To many listeners, this vaguely siren-like call evokes the sound of a horse whinnying. Eastern screech owls will call and respond to each other’s calls throughout the night. During breeding season, the males’ calls take on a faster, more urgent cadence as they defend their territories. The owls’ wavering, whinnying cries can sound surreal when heard echoing through neighborhoods or parks at night.
Suspect #3: Common Nighthawk
While not technically an owl, the common nighthawk is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird that makes a loud, nasal call as it flies high overhead at night. This nightjar has a buzzy, insect-like cry that resembles the sound of air rushing out of a balloon. In rapid succession, the call goes “peent…peent..peent.” During breeding season, males will perform elaborate aerial displays at dusk and dawn, emitting their harsh peenting calls as they show off. The syncopated peenting of common nighthawks high in the night sky can sound like sirens moving through the air.
Suspect #4: Chuck-will’s-widow
Like the common nighthawk, chuck-will’s-widows are nightjars famous for their vocalizations. They get their name from their loud, repetitive calls that sound like they are saying “chuck-will’s-widow” or “chuck-will’s-wife.” The second syllable tends to be emphasized, lending a plaintive, siren-like quality to the call. The birds call most actively on summer evenings and throughout the night during breeding season. Chuck-will’s-widow calls can be hypnotic and unearthly when echoed across moonlit fields or canyons.
Comparing Suspect Calls
To determine which of these nighttime callers most closely matches the description of sounding like a siren, let’s directly compare their vocalizations:
Bird Species | Call Description |
---|---|
Barred Owl | A loud, rising “Who cooks for you?” that resembles a distant human scream |
Eastern Screech Owl | A trembling, whinnying trill that swoops down in pitch |
Common Nighthawk | A nasal, buzzy “peent” repeated in series |
Chuck-will’s-widow | A repetitive, plaintive “chuck-will’s-widow” call |
When directly compared, the chuck-will’s-widow’s call stands out as most closely resembling the sound of a siren crying out at night. The syncopated repetition of its namesake call has an urgent, plaintive quality to it – more so than the other birds’ calls. The “widow” second syllable in particular has a mournful, siren-esque tone.
Why the Chuck-will’s-widow Sounds Like a Siren
There are some key reasons why the chuck-will’s-widow is such an effective siren impersonator:
- Repetition – Its insistent calling of “chuck-will’s-widow” over and over creates a siren-like effect
- Rhythm – The syncopated rhythm gives the call an urgent, alarming quality
- Timbre – The crying, plaintive tone especially on the second “widow” syllable is mournful and siren-like
- Resonance – Its calls strongly echo through open areas, amplifying the siren impression
- Seasonality – Calling peaks during breeding season, tying frequency to heightened urgency
In combination, these qualities make the chuck-will’s-widow’s cry penetrate the darkness extremely effectively. This important signaling helps the nightjar stake its claim and attract a mate during breeding season.
When and Where to Hear the Chuck-will’s-widow’s Call
To hear this siren song for yourself, listen for the chuck-will’s-widow in open country like prairies, meadows, or scrublands. Their range covers much of the eastern and southern United States, stretching west to parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. They prefer forest edges adjoining open areas.
Chuck-will’s-widows are most vocal on summer nights during breeding season between April and July. Their loud calls can begin at dusk and continue into the night. Moonlit nights are ideal, as males will call more actively when they have enough light to effectively display in flight.
Some specific spots that are excellent for listening to chuck-will’s-widows include: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida, and Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Simply finding an open field to stop and listen at night in much of the southeastern United States may reward you with the chuck-will’s-widow’s unearthly cry.
How to Distinguish the Chuck-will’s-widow from Other Birds
If you hear a strange siren song while out at night, listen for the tell-tale “chuck-will’s-widow” repetition to identify it. However, there are a few other birds that may initially confuse an observer. Here are some tips for distinguishing the chuck-will’s-widow call:
- Whip-poor-wills say their name rapidly, without the drawn-out “widow” second syllable.
- Eastern screech owls have a trembling, horse-like whinny not a sharp “chuck-will’s” call.
- Common nighthawks make a simple nasal “peent” not a two-syllable call.
- Northern mockingbirds can mimic chuck-will’s-widows but lack the nightjar’s repetition and siren-esque tone.
The chuck-will’s-widow’s combination of repetition, syncopated rhythm, mournful tone, and nighttime vocalization help solidify its status as one of the birds that most closely mimics the sound of a siren in the dark.
Conclusion
The chuck-will’s-widow stands out with its repetitive, plaintive cry that resembles an insistent siren cutting through the night air. Its biological drive to call loudly and frequently during breeding season pairs perfectly with its innate vocal qualities to create an unearthly sound. With a range across much of the southern and eastern U.S., chuck-will’s-widows provide a late-night serenade to all willing to listen for their haunting song. So next time you hear a strange siren sound on a moonlit summer night, take a moment to appreciate the natural wonder that is the call of the chuck-will’s-widow.