Why do birds sing at night?
Other factors that stop birds from singing at night
What bird sings most often at night?
We usually associate bird song with daytime, but several different types of bird songs can be heard at night.
With the exception of owls, all other nocturnal singers are migratory birds, most commonly heard during the spring and summer months. This includes crakes, nightingales and nightingales. There are also reed and sedge warblers that are truly nocturnal, singing extensively throughout the night.
British birds that sing at night in Great Britain are as follows:
- owl
- corn cake
- Dunnox
- nightingale
- nighthawk
- Reed Warbler
- Robin
- Shaying
- thrush
Why do birds sing at night?
All types of birds are governed by a daily rhythm of light and dark, and just as first light triggers song in some birds, dim light has the same effect. This usually means that the birds can continue to sing in total darkness, mostly because they are just starting to sing from when the light is already low.
This behavior certainly happens to dunnocks, thrushes, and many other birds from time to time. Already crowned Best Daytime Singer, Robin still stands on the podium for nightly singing.
Robins are great for foraging at night in dim lighting and any artificial light. Something like a streetlight or floodlight could easily trigger them into an entire song no matter what the time of day. Since some of these birds maintain their territories year-round, it often happens year-round.

The undisputed singer of day and night, Robin.
Other factors that stop birds from singing at night
Light isn’t the only thing that makes birds sing at night. It is also thought that sudden loud noises such as thunder and fireworks can suddenly wake birds up into song.
It is also thought that the songs of other nocturnal birds can trigger robins to start singing, especially the distantly related nightingale.
did you know?
There have been many reports of nightingales singing incessantly in winter, and it turns out to be robins!
What bird sings most often at night?
Nationally, robins are the most frequent nocturnal songbirds.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.