What is this loud bird in the middle of the night?

[ufo_chris]

We have this really loud bird that chirps or whatever you call it ,especially at night. Daytime also, but I think you notice it less!
I know nothing about birds, someone suggested it could be a Nightingale because it 'sings' at night?
It is bigger than a sparrow or cardinal,smaller then a raven,maybe the size of a robin...sorry that is about all the birds I know... dark colour,some white on it's wings when it flies,usually sits on top of house ,garage or way up in a tree.
DH has threatened to shoot it because you can't even have the windows open!
I told him he can't, it's probably protected!
It makes different sounds and sooo loud. Even when no one is outside .
Does anyone know what this may be?
Thanks, Chris

[nancy237]

Sounds like a mockingbird to me .. They are grey with the white on their wings and they sing at night and make different sounds.

This is from an article about them
"Another one of a mockingbird’s little quirks is his penchant for singing at night. Oh, and what a wonderfully long, loud and varied song he has! The mockingbird is an excellent mimic! He can copy and repeat (over and over again) the lilting tune of a warbler, the clucking of a robin or the cawing and clicking of a crow! Mix in the sweet cadence of a veery’s song and you have a performance that has no match. Of course this is absolutely delightful on a balmy summer evening as you relax on the porch. But good luck getting any shut-eye if it’s going on outside your bedroom window at 11 pm!"

[JuliaAnn]

I'd say mockingbird too. Their songs are quite varied, and it's the only 'daytime' songbird that I've ever heard sing at night. For example, I've never heard a cardinal, chickadee, blue jay, tanager, or any other daytime bird sing at night. I do hear owls, night jars, chuck will's widows, etc at night, but not daytime songbirds.

We've had one singing at night for a while now. I can hear it best when I'm in the bathroom in the middle of the night. We leave the window up in there, and it must be on that side of the property.

[City Bound]

We had some frustrating bird making noise every night all last summer. Oh man, what a pain that thing was.

[ufo_chris]

Thanks Guys! I actually just came back here from googling Mockingbird and was gonna post I think that is what it is!
So this confirms it!
It also said they quit when they find a mate so hopefully Love will come soon!
BTW ,it also said you can't harm them so I will be sure to tell Hubby!
It does not bother me that much ,although it is VERY loud, but I love animals more than he does.
Thanks so much,Chris

[Harry Chickpea]

Just an opinion here... I love mockingbirds. They are the most personable birds in the wild. They actually have a brain that is more than instinct driven, and they are individual. Crows and ravens can think, but they can't sing.

[CaliannG]

We have a mockingbird that has set up territory in our woods, and i LOVE listening to him.

Not only does he have cardinals, chickadees, warblers, and the scissortail flycatcher...but he also mimics EXACTLY the "chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, swish chug, swish chug, swish chug, swish chug" or our sprinklers.

It makes me smile every time I hear him.

[SillyMe]

I can't believe that you guys don't like the Mockingbird. They are nature's music superstars. Would you rather listen to traffic and those terrible boom boxes?

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

It'll leave you along after a little while.

[geo in mi]

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise"

John Lennon, Paul McCartney



geo

[Karenrbw]

"Its a sin to kill a mockingbird Scout."

[JIL]

wait til you here a whipperwill now that is the same thing ALLLL night.

[ricky]

i would open the windows to hear it all night.

[ufo_chris]

Yep, it does not bother me ,just hubby! He is working a lot right now and can't stand anything disrupting his sleep!
I think it's amazing how loud it is and goes on and on and on.......
I told him he'd better not harm the little one looking for Love
Thanks,
Chris

[Ray]

thats correct get a whipperwill on your window sill, or a Bard owl, in the tree above your bedroom window, & you will not scare one of these away. LOUD!!!!!!!! ALL NIGHTTTT, then get up at 4AM to go to work every day!! almost worse than those silent helicopters with al,the spotlights!!! You have my sympathy

[NewGround]

I love Mockingbirds...

I love their songs...

[Cyngbaeld]

Had one once that sat on top of a tree saying "Meow, meow" and when the cats ran across the road, would dive bomb them. Very entertaining creatures.

[TNHermit]

I don t suppose any one is old enough to remember "the mocking bird hill" song. Grandma sang it all the time

[TJN66]

I looked up what they sound like. Yep..we have one here too. Loud as all get out but pretty. Hubby says if Im tired enough it wont wake me up. Yeah..right hun!

[nappy]

Is that "to wake up in the morning on mockingbird hill"? Should've googled it first but I think that's it. Lovely song.