Birds are claiming the night

Column by Moss Groenveld

Figure 1: zingende merel. EsterAce. (2021, 8 mei). Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Singing_Blackbird_(male).jpg

I woke up at three in the morning in my hotel room in central London. For the third time that night, I was staring at the ceiling. Not surprising, really, given that the fan was making an awful racket, there were strange noises coming from the room above me, and sirens were wailing too. In a metropolis like London, it’s never quiet. But this time I was woken by something completely different—something you wouldn’t expect in the middle of the night, even though I’d heard the sound so many times before.

I was woken by the cheerful song of a blackbird (figure 1). I could recognise the sound anywhere. In my parents’ back garden, blackbirds would nest in the hedge every year. This meant I could always enjoy their song in the spring. However, in the middle of the night in winter, you certainly don’t expect a bird to sing. It’s only in spring, late at night or very early in the morning, that you’re less surprised by it—for example, by the nightingale, which is known for its night-time song.

Nowadays, more and more birds are being affected by human activity. In cities in particular, it is not unusual for birds to be active at night. Light pollution from street lamps and office buildings is a well-known disruptor of their biological clock, which can cause them to sing outside normal daylight hours. Noise pollution, on the other hand, is a lesser-known disruptor of birdsong (Bird Spot, 2025). After all, isn’t it quieter at night than during the day? Yes, that’s true, but there is so much noise during the day that the birdsong is drowned out. As a result, birds are ‘forced’ to sing at night when it is quieter on the streets. In the dark hours, their song is not drowned out and the sound can travel further. This makes it more audible to other birds.

Birds use their song to find mates, to warn of predators, or to mark their territory (Vogelbescherming Nederland, 2025). If there is too much noise in the environment, they are often unable to hear the song signals of their fellow birds clearly. As a result, birds have to sing extra loudly, repeat their calls more often, or be active at different times, such as at night. Regaining their place takes a lot of energy and can cause stress. In the city, birds therefore have higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies than in the countryside. This does not necessarily mean that birds in the city are faring worse, but it does indicate that the life of the urban bird is particularly stressful (Van Veelen, 2026).

Is the bird trying to reclaim the city with its nocturnal song? Or is it merely claiming the void that arises when cities finally fall silent? Perhaps birds are not reclaiming anything, but are simply reminding us that the city has never belonged to us alone. Urban designers can take the bird’s habitat into account through a range of measures. Light pollution can be reduced by: limiting the use of blue light as much as possible and using red or warm white light instead (as this is perceived as less intense); opting for shielded lamps (so that light shines downwards); or dimming or switching off lighting in parks using sensors. In addition, noise pollution can be reduced by: using materials that block sound; installing green buffers or noise barriers along roads; or creating low-traffic zones. Birds are also less affected by human noise when they nest in cavities. Shrubs and undergrowth are therefore important for nesting sites. However, other types and heights of vegetation are also highly desirable, as dense forests and thickets ensure that bird sounds do not travel as far (Beatley, 2020).

Whilst during the day the streets of London are dominated by commuters making their way between the skyscrapers and red buses speeding through the streets, birds take over the night from humans. With their nocturnal song, they mark their territory and reclaim their space. In this way, we can easily share the city. Although this does mean a changing of the guard. And by that I don’t mean the ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, but humans making way for birds at night.

However, it seems to me much more pleasant to share the space with the birds at the same time. If we were a little more considerate of them, perhaps we could simply enjoy their beautiful song during the day again. Then no one would have to suffer from a lack of sleep. I can sleep soundly at night without being disturbed, and the birds no longer have to stay up late.

References

Beatley, T. (2020, November 5). The bird-friendly city: Creating safe urban habitats. Island Press.

Bird Spot. (2025, October 27). Why do birds sing at night? Retrieved on 16 March 2026, from https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-brain/why-do-birds-sing-at-night 

Van Veelen, D. (2026, February 12). Niet alleen minder zang: menselijk lawaai zet het leven van vogels op z’n kop. Retrieved on 16 March 2026, from https://scientias.nl/niet-alleen-minder-zang-menselijk-lawaai-zet-het-leven-van-vogels-op-zn-kop/ 

Vogelbescherming Nederland. (2025, March 3). Vroege vogels zingen niet voor niets zo vroeg. Retrieved on 16 March 2026, from https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/actueel/bericht/vroege-vogels-zingen-niet-voor-niets-zo-vroeg