Mystery bird sound at dusk in Alabama (1 Viewer)

[amccord77]

I've heard this bird every night this summer and I've researched and researched and can't find a match for it. ANY help would be awesome! (In the YouTube video I say "there" after every instance of the bird call. It's very quiet, but you can hear it with the sound up.)

Stats:
Location: Central Alabama, USA
Season: Summer (Jun - Aug)
Time: Dusk into a few hours of night
Position: I've heard them in the middle of the field (plowed and planted) and also in the trees.

My son claimed to have heard it fly from the ground to the trees and said it sounded like a larger bird (similar to goose wings flapping) - but we haven't had a visual.

The sound is just a single note - almost screech-ish and at times almost a combination of a kitten mew, but loud, and a screech.

I've listened to hawks, owls, grey catbirds.... nothing matches.

This is a link to the sound recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjSN_d3rU4c

 

[robinm]

Hi amccord77,

A warm welcome to BirdForum from all the Moderators and Admin :t:

I expect someone will be able to identify your sound - it is not one I am familiar with.

 

[RJP]

I know the vocalizations of most eastern birds, but this one stumped me. There are not many birds that vocalize at night. Are you certain that this is a bird?

 

[Peter C.]

It might not be - I can barely hear it, but could be an insect of some sort.

 

[amccord77]

Yes, positive it is a bird. And this little guy is definitely enigmatic! We've heard him fly from the ground to the trees and there's more than one of them. They'll go from the open field to the tree tops about 50 yards away. And definitely always at dusk into a few hours of the night... around 11pm. They could possibly be out later, but I had to bed around then, but they're not out at 6am.

I REALLY appreciate all of your help. This little guy is driving me crazy trying to figure out what he is!