15 Birds That Sing at Night in California (With Sound Identification Guide)

California’s night air comes alive with an unexpected symphony.

While most people associate bird songs with morning chorus, over 40 species regularly vocalize after dark across the Golden State, from the urban mockingbird’s marathon performances to the haunting calls of desert nightjars.

This comprehensive guide explores 15 birds that sing at night in California, helping you identify the mysterious voices that fill your evening hours.

Whether you’re a curious homeowner wondering about backyard sounds or an aspiring birder seeking to expand your nocturnal knowledge, these species represent the most commonly heard night singers from San Diego to the Oregon border.

Birds That Sing at Night in California

1. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

The Northern Mockingbird stands as California’s most prolific night singer, particularly in urban and suburban areas. These gray-and-white birds with distinctive white wing patches can learn up to 200 different sounds, including other bird calls, car alarms, and mechanical noises.

What makes them sing at night:

• Unmated males sing continuously during breeding season (February through August)
• Territorial disputes with neighboring birds
• Abundant artificial lighting in urban areas

Sound identification: Mockingbirds repeat each phrase 3-6 times before switching to a new sound. Their repertoire includes borrowed songs from robins, cardinals, and even construction equipment.

Night Listening Tip: If you hear the same sequence repeated multiple times, then a completely different sound pattern, you’re likely hearing a mockingbird.

2. Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

The Common Poorwill represents California’s most specialized nocturnal bird, active exclusively after dark. These small nightjars inhabit desert and chaparral regions, where their gray-brown camouflage makes them nearly invisible during daylight hours.

Habitat preferences:

• Desert scrublands
• Chaparral hillsides
• Open woodlands with clearings
• Rocky outcrops

Sound identification: The poorwill’s call matches its name perfectly – a clear, two-syllable “poor-will” repeated rhythmically. Unlike owls, this call has a whistling quality rather than a hoot.

3. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Despite its name, the Common Nighthawk isn’t actually a hawk but rather a nightjar related to the poorwill. These birds create one of California’s most distinctive night sounds during their dramatic aerial displays.

Unique characteristics:

• White wing patches visible in flight
• Peent call followed by wing-booming
• Catches insects on the wing
• Migrates through California in late summer

Sound identification: Listen for a nasal “peent” call followed by a hollow booming sound created by air rushing through their wing feathers during steep dives.

4. Western Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus arizonae)

The Western Whip-poor-will inhabits California’s mountainous regions, particularly in oak and pine woodlands. These birds remain hidden during the day but become vocal after sunset, creating one of the most persistent night sounds in suitable habitat.

Preferred locations:

• Oak-pine woodlands
• Mountain canyons
• Foothill areas
• Riparian corridors

Sound identification: The call sounds like “whip-poor-will” with emphasis on the first and last syllables. Males may repeat this call hundreds of times without pause.

Seasonal Note: Western Whip-poor-wills are most vocal during breeding season (May through July) but may continue calling into early autumn.

5. Mexican Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus arizonae)

The Mexican Whip-poor-will occurs in southern California’s desert regions, particularly in areas with scattered trees or near water sources. This species represents the southwestern range of whip-poor-will distribution.

Distinguishing features:

• Slightly smaller than Western Whip-poor-will
• Prefers more arid habitats
• Call has subtle tonal differences
• More common near Mexican border

Sound identification: Similar to Western Whip-poor-will but with a slightly higher pitch and faster cadence. The call pattern remains “whip-poor-will” but sounds more urgent.

6. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Barn Owls produce some of California’s most startling night sounds. Rather than the typical owl hooting, these white-faced birds create harsh screeches and hisses that can be genuinely unsettling to first-time listeners.

Habitat preferences:

• Agricultural areas
• Open grasslands
• Suburban edges
• Areas with suitable nesting cavities

Sound identification: Barn Owls don’t hoot. Instead, they produce long, raspy screeches, clicking sounds, and hissing calls. Young owls make begging calls that sound like snoring.

Hunting behavior: These owls hunt silently, using their asymmetrical ear openings to pinpoint prey in complete darkness. Their heart-shaped facial disc funnels sound directly to their ears.

7. Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii)

The Western Screech-Owl’s call doesn’t match its name – instead of screeching, these small owls produce a distinctive bouncing ball rhythm. They’re common throughout California in areas with suitable tree cover.

Identification challenges:

• Often confused with other small owls
• Excellent camouflage against tree bark
• Responds to recordings of their own calls
• Most active just after sunset

Sound identification: The primary call resembles a bouncing ball, starting quickly and slowing down: “boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo.” They also produce a long, descending trill.

8. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl produces the classic owl sound most people recognize from movies and television. These large, powerful owls inhabit diverse habitats across California and remain active throughout the night.

Physical characteristics:

• Distinctive ear tufts (not actual ears)
• Yellow eyes
• Powerful talons
• Silent flight

Sound identification: The call consists of deep, resonant hoots in a pattern often described as “Who’s awake? Me too!” The rhythm is typically 5-6 hoots with the middle ones closer together.

Territorial behavior: Great Horned Owls use their calls to establish territory boundaries and communicate with mates. Peak calling occurs during breeding season (December through February).

9. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

While primarily known as dawn singers, American Robins frequently sing well before sunrise, technically making them night singers. Their cheerful song often marks the transition from night to day.

Pre-dawn singing patterns:

• Begins 2-3 hours before sunrise
• Continues through dawn chorus
• Most active during breeding season
• Urban birds start earlier due to artificial lighting

Sound identification: Robin songs consist of liquid phrases that sound like “cheerily, cheer-up, cheer-up, cheerily.” Each phrase contains 2-3 syllables with a musical quality.

Urban Impact: City robins often sing earlier and louder than rural birds, adapting to compete with traffic noise and artificial lighting.

10. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

Western Meadowlarks occasionally sing during evening hours, particularly during breeding season. Their flute-like songs carry long distances across open grasslands and agricultural areas.

Preferred habitats:

• Grasslands
• Agricultural fields
• Meadows
• Open areas with scattered perches

Sound identification: The song consists of 7-10 flute-like notes in a descending pattern. The quality is clear and melodious, often described as one of North America’s most beautiful bird songs.

11. Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

Marsh Wrens sing throughout the night during breeding season, particularly in wetland areas. Males may sing continuously for hours, creating a constant background sound in suitable habitat.

Habitat requirements:

• Cattail marshes
• Freshwater wetlands
• Seasonal ponds
• Irrigation channels

Sound identification: The song consists of rapid, bubbling notes that sound like liquid chatter. Each male typically has 50-200 different song variations.

Behavioral notes: Male Marsh Wrens build multiple dome-shaped nests, singing from different locations to attract females and establish territory boundaries.

12. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Killdeer produce some of California’s most distinctive night calls, particularly around wetlands and shorelines. Their piercing cries carry long distances and often indicate the presence of predators or disturbances.

Habitat flexibility:

• Shorelines
• Mudflats
• Agricultural fields
• Parking lots and gravel areas

Sound identification: The call matches their name – a sharp, piercing “kill-deer” or “kill-dee” repeated rapidly. They also produce trilling alarm calls when threatened.

Defensive behavior: Killdeer are famous for their broken-wing distraction displays, performed to lead predators away from their ground nests.

13. California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)

The California Thrasher occasionally sings during evening hours, particularly in chaparral and scrubland habitats. As a California endemic, this species represents the state’s unique avian heritage.

Endemic status:

• Found only in California and Baja California
• Adapted to Mediterranean climate
• Indicator species for healthy chaparral ecosystems
• Vulnerable to habitat loss

Sound identification: The song consists of varied phrases, similar to a mockingbird but with more complex, musical qualities. Each phrase is usually sung only once before moving to a new pattern.

14. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

Spotted Towhees occasionally sing during evening hours, particularly in brushy habitats throughout California. Their distinctive call-and-response pattern makes them easy to identify.

Habitat preferences:

• Chaparral
• Oak woodlands
• Brushy areas
• Suburban gardens with dense vegetation

Sound identification: The song sounds like “drink-your-tea” with the last note trilled. They also produce a distinctive “mewing” call note.

Foraging behavior: Spotted Towhees create rustling sounds while foraging, using a distinctive “double-scratch” technique to uncover insects and seeds.

15. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

The Hermit Thrush produces one of California’s most ethereal night sounds, particularly in mountain forests. Their flute-like songs create an otherworldly atmosphere during evening hours.

Habitat requirements:

• Coniferous forests
• Mixed woodlands
• Mountain areas
• Areas with dense understory

Sound identification: The song consists of a clear, flute-like note followed by a complex series of harmonics. Each phrase starts on a different pitch, creating a haunting, ethereal quality.

Seasonal patterns: Hermit Thrushes are most vocal during breeding season (April through July) but may continue singing into early autumn during migration.

Creating Your California Night Bird Listening Experience

Best listening times:

• 30 minutes after sunset through midnight
• Pre-dawn hours (3-5 AM)
• Moonlit nights with minimal wind
• During breeding seasons (spring and early summer)

Optimal locations:

• Mix of habitats (edge areas)
• Areas with water sources
• Minimal human disturbance
• Natural sound corridors

Equipment recommendations:

• Smartphone recording apps
• Binoculars for visual identification
• Red flashlight (preserves night vision)
• Field guide or identification app

Seasonal Listening Calendar

Spring (March-May):

• Peak mockingbird activity
• Whip-poor-will arrivals
• Increased owl territorial calling
• Migration-related night sounds

Summer (June-August):

• Continued mockingbird singing
• Nightjar peak activity
• Owl family groups
• Reduced dawn chorus

Fall (September-November):

• Migration night calls
• Reduced territorial singing
• Owl hunting calls
• Winter resident arrivals

Winter (December-February):

• Minimal night singing
• Owl breeding calls
• Occasional robin pre-dawn songs
• Storm-related calling

Understanding Night Bird Behavior

Why birds sing at night:

• Mate attraction during breeding season
• Territory establishment and defense
• Reduced competition from daytime singers
• Cooler temperatures for energy conservation

Environmental factors:

• Artificial lighting extends singing periods
• Traffic noise forces timing changes
• Weather patterns affect activity levels
• Habitat quality determines species presence

Conservation considerations: Night-singing birds face increasing challenges from light pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Supporting local conservation efforts and creating bird-friendly environments helps maintain these enchanting nocturnal voices.

California’s night birds offer a fascinating glimpse into the state’s rich biodiversity. From the persistent mockingbird to the ethereal hermit thrush, these species create a natural soundtrack that connects us to the wild spaces that still exist within our increasingly developed landscape. Learning to identify these voices enriches our understanding of the natural world and provides countless hours of peaceful evening entertainment.

Whether you’re standing in your backyard or exploring California’s diverse habitats, take time to listen to the night. These 15 species represent just a fraction of the state’s nocturnal chorus, but they offer an excellent starting point for anyone interested in discovering the hidden world of California’s night birds.