Nocturnal Birding: A Guide to Owling and Night Sounds

When the sun goes down, a different cast of birds takes over — owls hooting from the woods, nightjars churring over fields, and the flight calls of migrants passing overhead in the dark. Nocturnal birding is mysterious, atmospheric, and deeply rewarding.

Owling: finding owls after dark

Owls are most vocal in late winter and early spring during courtship and territory-setting. Pick a calm, clear night, go to suitable habitat, and simply listen — a Great Horned's hoot, a Barred Owl's 'who cooks for you,' an Eastern Screech-Owl's eerie whinny. Patience and quiet do more than any gadget.

Nightjars: the dusk shift

Nightjars like the Eastern Whip-poor-will and Chuck-will's-widow call their own names at dusk and into the night in late spring and summer. Common Nighthawks 'peent' and boom overhead at dusk in open country. Listen at twilight on warm evenings.

Nocturnal flight calls

Migrating songbirds give short flight calls as they pass overhead at night — an advanced and fascinating niche. On big migration nights you can stand outside and hear the sky 'raining' with the chips of thrushes and warblers moving in the dark.

Bird the night ethically

• Go easy on playback — repeatedly luring territorial owls wastes their energy and stresses them; in many parks and for sensitive species it's prohibited.
• Avoid shining strong lights at owls, which can temporarily blind a roosting bird.
• Keep noise and disturbance to a minimum, and respect private property and park hours.

Record what you hear

Phone microphones capture owl and nightjar calls surprisingly well in the night quiet. Record a few seconds and let Birder AI's sound ID confirm the species — a perfect way to build a nocturnal list without ever laying eyes on the bird.