How about using a Poorwill ? The name sounds sad and so does the song. The
rythm of the name would meld into lyrics well I suspect. The Mourning Dove
would also work, but as a homonym for morning, the name might be confusing.
Another bird that comes to mind is the Vesper Sparrow, but it may be more
difficult to make the name work in lyrics.

But really, what is more lonely than the mournful cry of the loon on a still
summer night?

Poorwill crying 'neath a silver moon...
Sadder still is the lonely loon....
Wailin' all night with love's sad tune...
Brought tears to the eye of a ring-tailed 'coon.

Oh my gawd, rhyming blues. It just won't work. New Orleans look out, I'm
comin' down with the Bird Man Blues.

Rick Howie
Kamloops, BC
rick.howie at shaw.ca