Like diurnal species, there are many nocturnal birds.
At night, they hunt their prey.
Here are five specimens of birds that sing at night, their particularities, as well as their habits.
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nightjar
The nightjar is a bird that sings at night in order to mate.
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Very discreet, the nightjar can be heard mainly at dusk, at dawn, and at night.
Almost 95 different species are distinguished, the main representatives of which are European and American nightjars.
They are renowned for their excellent adaptability.
They are mainly found in the heart of forests or near water points.
Like other species, the nightjar is a bird that sings at night in order to mate.
The male trills constantly.
It can vary the tone and speed of its vocalizations, which are similar to high-pitched stridulation.
The nightjar sings in good weather, more rarely when it rains or in very cold weather.
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The philomela nightingale
The song of the nightingale can last between 2 and 4 seconds with complex intonations.
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Another species of bird that sings at night, the nightingale Philomel lives both in town and in the middle of the forest.
It belongs to the passerine family, has a wingspan of about twenty centimeters and weighs less than 40 g.
Its plumage is brown and white with a red tail.
As for its diet, it essentially boils down to ants, invertebrates and sometimes beetles.
He can supplement his food with fruits and berries.
Like the nightjar, the philomela nightingale is a bird that sings at night to attract the female.
Its song is strong and easily identifiable.
It can last between 2 and 4 seconds with complex intonations.
Note that its daytime song is more powerful.
In return, its nocturnal song gains in variety.
It can also sing during wintering periods, and more rarely, to defend its territory.
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The owl
A tawny owl.
This bird sings at night to show its presence and defend its territory.
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The owl is without doubt one of the best-known nocturnal birds.
However, this name includes nearly 200 distinct species, such as the spectacled owl or the tawny owl.
As a rule, these night-singing birds feed on small animals and even other birds.
It can be, for example, rodents, snakes, as well as insects.
The owl has the distinction of having binocular vision and being able to turn its head 270 degrees.
The song of the owl is likely to vary from one species to the next.
It most often emits a two-step hoot.
Its vocalizations can be more or less jerky.
As a general rule, this bird which sings at night manifests its presence to defend its territory, to alert congeners.
The owl can also indicate the arrival of an intruder, or even a predator.
The solitary thrush
The solitary thrush is distinguished by a very harmonious song.
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Like the philomela nightingale, the hermit thrush also belongs to the passerine family.
There are 9 subspecies of this night-singing bird.
Its habitat extends from North America to Central America;
from Alaska to Mexico during wintering.
It is found in woods, forests, even parks and green spaces in cities.
As a rule, it nests at low heights or on the ground.
The hermit thrush is a bird that sings at night to attract its female and, if necessary, to mark its territory.
It is distinguished by a very harmonious song with a strong clear tone.
It can be heard in the evening, in the middle of the night, as well as at dawn.
She is able to modulate her base frequency to double or even triple it in her repetitions.
Some specialists do not hesitate to compare the song of the hermit thrush to the melody of a wind instrument, such as the flute.
the lark
The song of the lark is characterized by its power and its melody.
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The lark includes about fifteen subgenera, as well as 76 different species of birds.
Many of them are nocturnal, as they are very sensitive to light.
They are therefore particularly famous for singing at night.
It is an insectivorous animal that loves the countryside and open, clear spaces, especially because it nests on the ground.
The song of the lark is characterized by its power and its melody.
It performs its vocalizations in full flight, preferably at high altitude.
This bird can be heard singing at night during courtship displays.
This means of expression can also be used to strengthen social ties with its fellow creatures or to defend its territory when an intruder approaches.
When she sings, the lark is said to be gray.
