One Bird Is Likely To Blame For Chirping All Night & Ruining Your Sleep

Though the sounds of birds singing are often beautiful, tossing and turning all night due to the constant chirping isn't. If you have been robbed of a good night's sleep with obstreperous bird songs over and over again, the northern mockingbird is a likely culprit. These talented (yet sometimes annoying) birds can be found throughout most of North America, and they are famous for their ability to imitate other birds and sounds.

Mockingbirds will sing during the day, but when you hear one at night in the spring and summer, you're likely listening to a male. Though these midnight serenades typically only occur for a couple of weeks at the end of spring or start of summer, you may hear them again in the middle of summer. It's common for homeowners to want to attract more songbirds to your yard, but if you can't take their singing and need some sleep, you'll need to find ways to deter the mockingbirds. Otherwise, you might just have to wait them out until they've finished their songs.

During the spring and summer, mockingbirds may be one type of bird you do not want to be seeing in your yard because of their loud, late-night chirping. This constant, grating singing is often an effort for a male bird to find a female mate. The more varied the male's song and imitations are, the more likely he is to attract a female. Unfortunately, until the bird finds his love, he's probably going to keep singing each night.

While this is the most common cause for nighttime northern mockingbird chirping, there could be other reasons these birds are keeping you awake. In some cases, mockingbirds will chirp through the night when there is a full moon. In other situations, they may simply be squawking to protect their territory from other birds, though this is more common in the wee hours of the morning. Ear plugs and noise machines may help some people sleep through the incessant chirping, but there are also a few ways to deter mockingbirds from your yard.

Northern mockingbirds can be deterred by scaring them away. This is often one of the best methods for keeping birds out of your yard and garden, and there are several ways to go about it. These songbirds are only about 10 inches long and weigh less than 2 ounces, and luckily, they can be frightened by larger, predatory birds. Setting up a fake hawk or owl near where you've heard the singing could encourage the bird to move on. Because your feathered friends are smart, you may want a decoy that has a moving head, or you can relocate the fake owl every so often to make it more effective.

Shiny items, such as reflective tape and CDs, can also be used to deter birds from your outdoor space. The shimmering surface is jarring for them, and even scarier when it blows around in the wind. Place some of this reflective tape around your yard, moving it every so often, or try hanging up old CDs. With these options, you can repel those mockingbirds from your yard and get back to sleeping through the night.