As I lay awake last night I heard a bird calling outside my bedroom window. It was 12:30 am and lasted a good 10 minutes. I think it was a Mockingbird, it had a range of 6-8 different calls each one repeating anywhere from 2 to 5 times. I'm not the best when it comes to I.D. by call so it could of been another mimic. Is it common for a song bird to be up so late, and why? Could it have been something other than a Mockingbird? I live in rural south west Virginia with Wrens, Brown Thrashers, Mockingbirds, and Phoebes nesting close to house.
Thanks,
Dee Dee
9 replies to this topic
#2
psweet
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Posted 14 June 2012 - 02:46 PM
It's actually not at all unusual for a Mockingbird to be singing at any hour of the night.
#3
fisherman1313
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Posted 14 June 2012 - 10:25 PM
Northern Mockingbirds sing to advertise/defend territories on bright moonlit nights or in areas well lit by street lamps. I have one in my neighborhood that starts just after sundown and sometimes goes until daybreak. He's lulled me to sleep or kept me awake (depending on how close he is to my bedroom window) on many nights over the last few weeks.
New Year's Resolutions:
Get my lifelist to 300 (currently 293)
Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow
Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 193 as of 5/12.
Latest Lifer(s):Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13
Favorite Recent Bird(s):Yellow-breasted Chat, Knights Ferry Rec Area, Knights Ferry, CA, 5/20/13; Blue-winged Teal (Pair), Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling (3),Franklin's Gull (9), Modesto Wastewater Treatment Facility, Modesto, CA, 5/12/13, MacGillivray's Warber, Adair Rd., Modesto, CA, 5/5/13, Long-eared Owl, Mercy Hot Springs, Fresno County, CA, 4/29/13, Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, Panoche Shool, San Benito County, CA, 4/29/13,Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, McHenry Rec Area, Escalon, CA, 4/21/13, Snowy Plover, Modesto Water Treatment Plant, Modesto, CA, 4/14/13, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, San Luis NWR, Merced County, CA, 3/11/13, Eurasian Wigeon, American Bittern, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County,, CA, 3/9/13
#4
folkeye
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Quit being a butter-butt!
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Posted 14 June 2012 - 10:27 PM
Mockingbirds should be called Night Owls 
Bird's I've seen (UPDATED 04-11-13!)
flickr.com/photos/23662662@N08/sets/72157630138099432/
Recent Lifers: Wilson's Snipe (200th Lifer Yay!), Common Murre, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cassin's Vireo, Lawrene's Goldfinch, White-winged Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, Cliff Swallow, Warbling Vireo, Hermit Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech Owl
flickr.com/photos/23662662@N08/sets/72157630138099432/
Recent Lifers: Wilson's Snipe (200th Lifer Yay!), Common Murre, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cassin's Vireo, Lawrene's Goldfinch, White-winged Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, Cliff Swallow, Warbling Vireo, Hermit Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech Owl
#5
fisherman1313
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Posted 14 June 2012 - 10:44 PM
Mockingbirds should be called Night Owls
That would be REALLY confusing for new birders.
New Year's Resolutions:
Get my lifelist to 300 (currently 293)
Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow
Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 193 as of 5/12.
Latest Lifer(s):Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13
Favorite Recent Bird(s):Yellow-breasted Chat, Knights Ferry Rec Area, Knights Ferry, CA, 5/20/13; Blue-winged Teal (Pair), Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling (3),Franklin's Gull (9), Modesto Wastewater Treatment Facility, Modesto, CA, 5/12/13, MacGillivray's Warber, Adair Rd., Modesto, CA, 5/5/13, Long-eared Owl, Mercy Hot Springs, Fresno County, CA, 4/29/13, Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, Panoche Shool, San Benito County, CA, 4/29/13,Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, McHenry Rec Area, Escalon, CA, 4/21/13, Snowy Plover, Modesto Water Treatment Plant, Modesto, CA, 4/14/13, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, San Luis NWR, Merced County, CA, 3/11/13, Eurasian Wigeon, American Bittern, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County,, CA, 3/9/13
#6
chickadee1379
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Posted 16 June 2012 - 12:04 PM
Thanks for the replies everyone. I acualy love listening to it. Counting the calls and repititions has become like counting sheep for me.
#7
JimBob
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Posted 16 June 2012 - 01:51 PM
Mockingbirds should be called Night Owls
That would be REALLY confusing for new birders.
And owls are out at night. . . so night owl would be too redundant.
ABA list: 295 Latest: Swamp Sparrow
2013: 220
Yard List: 85 Latest: Violet-green Swallow, Tricolored Blackbird
http://www.flickr.co...s/89595711@N08/
2013: 220
Yard List: 85 Latest: Violet-green Swallow, Tricolored Blackbird
http://www.flickr.co...s/89595711@N08/
#8
BarnSwallow
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Posted 16 June 2012 - 02:53 PM
Except short-eareds and burrowing - they're day owls!
#9
Aveschapines
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Posted 16 June 2012 - 03:15 PM
Except short-eareds and burrowing - they're day owls!
LOL I was going to ask if there are any owls that aren't nocturnal! Seemed like there would be an exception or two out there somewhere...
Latest lifer: Pacific Parakeet! Right behind my house!
#10
psweet
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Posted 16 June 2012 - 03:43 PM
Add Northern Pigmy Owl and Northern Hawk Owl to that list. In summer, Snowys are diurnal (by necessity, if you think about it) and I wouldn't be surprised if Great Gray's are in the northern part of their range.
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