Who’s Calling So Late? Nature’s Nocturnal Noises
Written for Headwaters Wilderness Program’s Campfire Blog (July 2025)
One of the best parts of sleeping in a tent is listening to the sounds of nature’s night shift. The hooting of an owl from somewhere across the lake or the chirps of crickets are highlights in the “identifying nocturnal life game” I like to play in my head as I’m falling asleep.
Yet, on a recent stay at Ramona Lake off the Western Uplands backpacking trail in Algonquin Provincial Park, being a light sleeper was not working in my favour. It seemed that the location of my tent was in the front row to an all-night symphony of frogs calling nonstop from a boggy area beside my campsite. After tossing and turning for some time, I reflected on why after sunset is the perfect time for many Ontario species to put on their loudest performances. I had no choice but to lie back and enjoy the show.
Who makes the most common sounds you’ll hear on a summer night? Next time you’re falling asleep outdoors, listen to see if you can identify any of these members of nature’s late-night cast:
1. Frogs and Toads
Many amphibians like toads and frogs are most active after dark (as I recently learned) because temperatures are lower and they can retain more moisture in their skin. The cover of darkness also makes it easier to not be spotted by predators like American Mink or Eastern Gartersnakes. Frogs like the American Bullfrog are very vocal on spring and summer nights to attract mates and defend their territory. The Gray Treefrog has an especially recognizable call. Learn the calls of frogs and toads here and find more information on Ontario’s amphibians in the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.
Using a headlight to explore your campsite at night can help you find roaming amphibians, like this Green Frog (which I found doing exactly that)
2. Hermit Thrush
You’d never expect a bird that looks so plain to have one of the most elegant songs in the forest. When I first learned about the Hermit Thrush, it was described as the “bird that sings the forest to sleep” because it is often the last bird you’ll hear before sunset. If you listen carefully in the evening for isolated, melodious birdsong, it’s likely coming from a Hermit Thrush. Its song is the last act of golden hour as the curtains close on the day. Here is a story about the Hermit Thrush from the Oneida Nation and a link to the book “Sacred Song of the Hermit Thrush: A Mohawk Story” by Tehanetorens Ray Fadden.
3. Owls
In Ontario, we have eleven species of these nocturnal birds. Often associated with wisdom or mystery, owls are rarely seen during the day so hearing their call at night is a special experience. The most common owls you’ll hear in Ontario are the Barred Owl, which has been said to sound like someone saying, “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all,” or the low, classic “hooting” of the Great Horned Owl. You’re more likely to hear the “whinnying” of an Eastern Screech Owl if you’re closer to an urban area. Listening to owl calls is an easy way to learn how to recognize who may be hooting in a forest near you.
The call of an Eastern Screech Owl is common on a summer night in mixed-hardwood forests or in city parks.
4. Eastern Whip-poor-will
Similar to owls, this bird in the nightjar family is most active at night and is more often heard than seen. Eastern Whip-poor-wills are experts at camouflage and seeing one is quite rare. But, on summer nights, hearing the distinct high-pitched call that phonetically sounds like “whip-poor-will” indicates that they are around. In Ontario, the Eastern Whip-poor-will is a species at risk due to factors like habitat fragmentation and agricultural pesticide use. Many campgrounds have log books where you can report seeing or hearing one. Learn more about Ontario’s only species of whip-poor-will and how to contribute to community science initiatives here.
5. Common Loon
Sometimes described as hauntingly eerie, the call of the Common Loon is arguably the most recognizable (and beautiful) sounds heard after dark in the Great Lakes region. Common Loons have a variety of different calls that are classified as yodels, wails, tremolos, and hoots. Each call is used for a different purpose. Calling at night lets sound travel further across bodies of water and is therefore the best time for loons to get their messages across. Listen to sound recordings here and practice your best loon yodel.
Staying awake to hear the sounds of the forest and lakes under the starlight makes a camping trip complete.
Only in the morning (and after some sleep) could I appreciate the beauty in being able to hear the diversity of life I was surrounded by. The rising sun brought with it an entirely new crowd to the sound stage and my identification game began again.
