I had a little gang of lovebirds flying free in the conservatory, when there was a solar eclipse they went to their night time roost - then a few minutes later they got up again, highly indignant at being conned by the light levels dropping.

In the winter I have seen a flock of wagtails in a tree by a lamp at the supermarket. They hop about and cheep - I assume they are keeping warm and stay in that tree because they can see better. In the warmer weather there are songbirds audible all night in the same area.

I think, having kept them, hens don't have any night vision.

Maybe the noisier at night birds either use artificially lit areas, or simply see better in dim light.   

Anne Croucher