Night Birds of North America

Most night birds hunt animals and insects that are active at night. Their vision and hearing allows them to see and hear extremely well in the dark or by the light of the moon and detect the movement of prey. An exception to the night-hunter rule is the northern mockingbird, which often stays up at night singing. North American night birds fascinate many bird-lovers because they are more difficult to monitor and watch, making them seem more mysterious.

  1. Owls

    • A barn owl is an excellent night hunter.

      Owls live in many habitats throughout North America, both warm and cold, and in woods and meadow. Owls come in many different species, including barn owls, barred owls, spotted owls and horned owls. They are easily identifiable, both visually and audibly. They have large eyes on a large head with a short neck and stout body and, with the exception of a few species like the screech owl, make a distinct "who, who" sound. Owls, like the snowy owl, that live in extreme northern regions do not always hunt at night because part of the year is light 24 hours a day. Owls have very soft and long feathers that are silent during flight, helping them sneak up on prey like rodents and small animals. They grab prey with their long talons.

    Whip-poor-will

    • The whip-poor-will hunts at night using its excellent eyesight. It hunts primarily at twilight, dusk, dawn or during full moons when there is low light, but it's not pitch black. Whip-poor-wills eat insects of all sizes, like mosquitoes, beetles and moths. The bird gathers its prey while flying. Whip-poor-wills have poor feet and short legs, so they often perch on flatter surfaces than a tree branch, or they stand sideways on a branch rather than gripping it like most birds. They lay eggs in a bed of leaves instead of a nest, and timing is key. The eggs should hatch during the full moon to ensure ideal hunting conditions. Eastern whip-poor-wills are easily distinguished by their song, which sounds like their name, but the western species' song is less clear. The birds also migrate at night.

    Northern Mockingbird

    • Some male northern mockingbirds sing through the night.

      Northern mockingbirds sing almost constantly, and some even sing into the night. These birds are slender and gray, and get their names because they mimic or mock other birds' songs. Northern mockingbirds are found throughout the United States and into Central America. Males are the main singers, and single (unmated) male birds do most of the singing. They sing more nighttime songs during times of a full moon. A male mockingbird can learn up to 200 different bird songs in his lifetime. Females sing as well, though not as loudly and not as often.