Night Birds in Ohio: ID Guide With Sounds (2024)

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Is your nighttime soundtrack filled with the sweet songs of Ohio’s nocturnal birds? From the raucous calls of Common Nighthawks to the mellow, whistling song of a Yellow-breasted Chat, night owls across The Buckeye State can recognize these feathered friends by their distinctive sounds.

But before you can appreciate them for their vocalizations, you need to know who they are! In this article we provide an ID guide and audio clips so that anyone – from novice birdwatchers to experienced ornithologists – can easily identify each species in its natural habitat.

So grab your binoculars (or just use your ears!), and let’s get started on learning about Ohio’s night birds!

Northern Mockingbird

You’ll notice the Northern Mockingbird’s unique call and behavior when observing nocturnal birds in Ohio. While mostly diurnal, this medium-sized songbird sometimes sings at night. With white wing patches visible in flight and a long tail, the Northern Mockingbird is gray above and white below.

It mimics other birds and sounds. An open nester found in thickets, woods, and towns, this omnivore eats insects, fruits, seeds. Though the Northern Mockingbird resides in Ohio year-round, some migrate south for winter.

To support this iconic mimic, plant native berries and conserve scrubby habitat. When identifying night birds, listen for the Northern Mockingbird’s varied songs, from musical phrases to harsh chattering, as it defends its territory after dark.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Are we eager to spot this enigmatic yellow-breasted songster calling through Ohio’s summer darkness? Though hard to find, avid birders know its unique rattling song rings from Ohio’s thickets and brush during migration and breeding.

The Yellow-breasted Chat likes dense, brushy thickets along streams, swampy woodlands, overgrown fencerows, and regenerating clearcuts. It sneaks and darts through the vegetation, feeding on insects, spiders, and berries.

This strikingly colored, mimicking songbird passes through Ohio in May and breeds here in summer before heading south by September. Chats are tough to see and secretive, but patient birders can glimpse its bright plumage and hear its one-of-a-kind repertoire as it calls under cover of night.

Protecting its scrubby habitat lets us enjoy this yellow-breasted, nocturnal songster on its breeding and migratory journey through the Buckeye State.

Common Nighthawk

Be migratin’ through Ohio from May to September, feedin’ on large insects in flight. The common nighthawk comes wingin’ through the Buckeye State when the days grow long and warm. With its mottled brown and grey feathers and distinctive white wing patches, you’ll recognize this nightjar soon as the sun sinks low.

Listen for its nasal peent while it zigzags through the dusk sky, gobblin’ up winged critters.

Scopin’ insects with big ol’ eyes, the nighthawk uses camouflage to roost unseen on the ground by day. But come nightfall, it takes to the air, zigzaggin’ across the night sky makin’ its presence known with boomin’ wing sounds and sharp cries.

You won’t find this bird perched – it’s always on the move when darkness falls across Ohio’s forests and fields.

Chuck-will’s-widow

Though biding time till dusk’s grasp, your ears catch its haunting refrain through the darkening Ohio woodlands. As shadows creep in, the Chuck-will’s-widow begins its nightly chorus. Perched unseen amid the canopy, it unleashes its rhythmic, pulsing chuck-will’s-widow call into the deepening night.

This large, cryptically colored nightjar frequents open woodlands and edges, feasting on moths, beetles and winged ants during its summer stay before migrating south. While its camouflage conceals it by day, its voice gives away its presence after sunset.

Let its wild, repetitive song transport you to untamed southern forests as you listen to this nocturnal migrant’s unforgettable nighttime refrain. Ohio offers a fleeting chance to experience the chuck-will’s-widow’s haunting vocalizations as part of its rich night bird chorus.

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Twas the Eastern whip-poor-will’s whistles at dusk that helped you identify this distinctive Ohio nocturnal bird. It sings its onomatopoeic name in an unmistakable nocturnal solo—a hollow, rhythmic chant that evokes mystery.

You sought its rolling whip-poor-will refrain amid moonlit fields and forests, knowing it heralds the gloaming.

This expert mimic evolves its songs throughout the night, incorporating other birds’ tunes like an avian DJ remixing a setlist. Its camouflage plumage blends into the leaf litter where it nests on the ground, perfectly adapted for its crepuscular habits.

Attuned to the stirrings of dusk, your keen ears detect its unearthly melody as it spirals up through the darkening sky. Feel its pull, its wild freedom. Your heart thrills at its untamed music and the ancient pulse of night.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

You’ll discover the Black-crowned Night-Heron stalking the shoreline after dusk with its imposing wingspan, searching for aquatic creatures in the moonlit waters to fill its croaking bill.

As a nocturnal bird researcher, I’ve had the privilege of observing these fascinating birds in Ohio’s wetland habitats. The black-crowned night-heron is known for its unique feeding habits, primarily preying on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

Their habitat preferences include marshes and swamps near bodies of water where they can easily find their preferred food sources.

During breeding season from April to July, you may hear their distinctive nighttime voices as they communicate through loud squawks and calls while roosting or nesting high up in trees or dense shrubbery.

Although some black-crowned night-herons are year-round residents in Ohio due to milder winters compared to northern regions of North America where they migrate from during springtime migration patterns between March-May.

When exploring Ohio’s nocturnal wildlife scene at dusk or dawn into darkness hours before sunrise, keep an eye out for these magnificent bird species.

Great Horned Owl

I’d spot that huge owl’s bright eyes glowing from the dark tree as it hunts rodents at night.

The great horned owl inhabits wooded areas and can be found perched on tree branches or nestled inside tree cavities.

Stealthy and powerful in flight, this nocturnal raptor plunges from its perch to seize prey in its sharp talons. With excellent low-light vision and superb hearing that detects even faint rustling noises, this skilled hunter thrives under the cloak of darkness.

As one of Ohio’s largest owl species, the great horned owl finds success in wooded wetlands and floodplain forests.

This apex avian predator keeps rodent numbers in check as it patrols the night skies.

Barn Owl

You notice the ghostly white face floating silently in the night as the barn owl hunts. Its heart-shaped face guides it through darkness. With acute hearing guiding it through the darkness, this raptor floats effortlessly over fields listening for the sounds of voles and mice scurrying in the grass.

A barn owl’s prey never knows what’s coming as the silent hunter swoops down snatching the unlucky rodent to take back to its nest. Though populations have declined, these owls can still be found nesting and roosting in old barns and hollow trees across much of Ohio.

Their presence indicates a healthy ecosystem, able to support the intricate food chain this farsighted raptor sits atop. Conserve the wetlands and grasslands that sustain its prey to ensure the barn owl’s reign over the night continues.

Barred Owl

The dark eyes of the barred owl staring back pierce the night’s veil as it sits perched above, its distinctive hoots echoing through the forest.

This mid-sized owl prefers mature forests with dense canopy cover for roosting and nesting. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals like mice, voles, and rabbits as well as frogs, snakes, and insects.

Known for its distinctive who cooks for you, who cooks for you all hooting vocalizations, the barred owl nests in tree cavities often formerly used by pileated woodpeckers.

Though still widespread, barred owl populations face pressure from habitat loss and competition with invasive great horned owls. Conserving mature forests and wetlands provides critical habitat for the barred owl and other nocturnal species like the eastern screech-owl, long-eared owl, and American woodcock thriving under the moon’s glow.

Long-eared Owl

With wingspans reaching three feet, long-eared owls utilize their camouflage and silent flight to hunt small mammals at night across Ohio. Barely audible thanks to specially adapted feathers, these skilled hunters cruise open fields and edges with keen eyes and ears.

Favoring grasslands, meadows, marshes, and young forest growth, long-eared owls listen and watch intently for voles, mice, and rabbits scurrying below. With exceptional vision and hearing guiding their flight, they plunge prey-ward with talons outstretched.

Nesting on the ground amid vegetation, females lay 3-8 eggs from March to July. Should you chance upon one roosting, recognize the privilege, but pass quietly to avoid disturbing its rest. Though uncommon, glimpsing these cryptic owls remains a special treat for patient observers.

Short-eared Owl

And ain’t Ohio a hoot-free night owl paradise during migratory layovers for these rarely seen raptors that flit by day or night on mouse-hunting patrol along field edges.

• With their characteristic ear tufts and impressive wingspans, Short-eared Owls are a sight to behold on autumn nights.
• They tend to be crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk, but will hunt whenever hungry.
• Their buoyant flight as they quarter low over fields is a giveaway to their presence.

Though they nest further north, Ohio’s open habitats provide ideal hunting grounds during migration for these masters of silent flight. Keep an eye out for their swift, buoyant wingbeats over grasslands and marshes as they hunt, and enjoy the rare treat of observing these fascinating owls on the move.

Eastern Screech-Owl

The Eastern Screech-Owl is identified by eight recognizable calls. The most common is a tremulous whinny. As dusk falls and this adorable raptor awakens, listen for screeches, hoots, and trills ringing through the night air.

A master vocalist, screech-owls serenade with nuanced hoots for courtship and to proclaim territories. Their diet consists of insects, small mammals, birds, crayfish, and earthworms. Nesting in natural tree cavities or woodpecker holes, females lay 3-7 eggs from April to May.

Though populations are stable, habitat loss threatens this species. Support conservation efforts by installing nest boxes and retaining standing dead trees where these birds roost and nest. With huge ear tufts and cryptic plumage, screech-owls embody the mystery and charm of the night.

Other Nocturnal Birds in Ohio

Greetings, birdwatcher! In addition to the eastern screech-owl, Ohio has other fascinating nocturnal birds like the American woodcock, Wilson’s snipe, northern saw-whet owl, and black-crowned night heron that are active at night.

When you’re out birding after dark, you’ll want to listen and look for their distinctive calls, plumage, and behaviors.

The state also hosts some less common night birds such as the common nighthawk, chuck-will’s-widow, and whip-poor-will. Keep an ear out for their unique vocalizations on summer evenings. With good field skills and some luck, keen birders may even spot a rare migrant like the eastern or western screech-owl passing through.

Equipped with a flashlight, binoculars, field guide, and passion for night birds, you’re sure to discover new species and have memorable nighttime birding adventures.

American Woodcock

You’ll be astonished that the American Woodcock’s brain is less than 1.5 grams, yet it performs elaborate courtship displays in the dark Ohio woods.

1. Rhythmic beak clacking
2. Zig-zagging aerial dances
3. Twilight mating rituals
4. Nocturnal ground foraging habits

The American Woodcock inhabits young forests and fields. This elusive bird probes the moist soil for earthworms at night. Come witness its spectacular aerial mating dances under the moonlit sky this spring.

Wilson’s Snipe

Your heart races as the Wilson’s snipe’s winnowing sound pierces the inky black Ohio night. This secretive marsh-dweller probes the mud for insects with its long bill, feeding along wetland edges as twilight deepens into true darkness.

Unusual among shorebirds, it nests on the ground under the cover of night. Silently it passes overhead under moonlight, its cryptic plumage hiding among the reeds at first light.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Man, don’t those big eyes on that tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl look mysteriously attractive against the night sky as you stroll through the Ohio woods seeking nocturnal birds? Surveying forest edges, this little owl hunts mice and voles, nesting in tree cavities while migrating south through Ohio.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Twas early evening when you first spied the stocky black-crowned night heron standing motionless at the water’s edge, waiting to spear its next meal.

• Prefers marshes, swamps, tidal flats
• Spears fish, frogs, crustaceans
• Nests April-July in trees, reeds

You can spot this nocturnal heron roosting or foraging after dusk near wetlands throughout Ohio. Its striking black crown and buffy thighs set it apart from other waders. With patience, you may observe its lightning-fast strikes to snatch aquatic prey.

Identifying Night Birds

Identifying Night Birds in Ohio

Spotting night birds in Ohio is like seeing fireflies on a summer evening – their calls and behaviors make them shine in the dark. Listen for the migration songs, nesting chatter, and nightly feeding calls of Ohio’s nocturnal birds to identify these feathered creatures.

Seek the darkness to find the glowing eyes and silhouettes of our avian friends in moonlight.