The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a medium-sized bird found throughout much of North America. As its name suggests, the Common Nighthawk is most active at night and is known for its distinctive “peent” call. But just how big is this crepuscular bird? Let’s take a closer look at the Common Nighthawk’s size.
Wingspan
One of the most noticeable features of the Common Nighthawk is its long, pointed wings. When fully spread, the wingspan of a Common Nighthawk ranges from:
20.9 – 26.7 in (53 – 68 cm) |
That puts the Common Nighthawk on par with other medium-sized North American birds like the Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, and Red-tailed Hawk. The wide wingspan allows the nighthawk to maneuver gracefully in flight to catch insects on the wing.
Length
From the tip of its beak to the end of its tail, a Common Nighthawk measures approximately:
7.1 – 9.8 in (18 – 25 cm) |
This makes the Common Nighthawk slightly smaller than a Robin but bigger than a House Sparrow. The length of a nighthawk can vary depending on sex, with females generally being larger than males.
Weight
Despite its medium size, the Common Nighthawk has a very light frame thanks to its hollow, lightweight wing bones. On average, these birds weigh:
2.0 – 4.2 oz (57 – 119 g) |
That’s about the same as 3-4 golf balls! Their light weight allows Common Nighthawks to stay aloft for long periods of time without expending much energy flapping.
Wing Shape
The wings of the Common Nighthawk are long and tapered, ideal for quick maneuvering. When seen flying overhead, the wings appear to have a curved, bowed shape. This highly-efficient wing shape enables the nighthawk to migrate long distances between its breeding and wintering grounds each year.
Plumage
Common Nighthawks have cryptic brown, gray, and black mottled plumage that provides excellent camouflage as they roost during the day. Their barred pattern helps them blend in against tree bark. White wing patches are visible when the wings are spread in flight. The underside of the wings lack the barring and are instead grayish-brown.
Beak
As an insectivorous bird, the Common Nighthawk has a small but wide beak, measuring approximately 0.6 inches (15 mm), that is perfect for catching flying insects. The beak opens extra wide to engulf prey while on the wing. Tiny, stiff rictal bristles around the base of the beak help the nighthawk sense insects in flight.
Legs and Feet
Since Common Nighthawks spend most of their time in the air, their legs and feet are fairly small and set far back on their bodies. Their feet have three toes facing forward and one toe facing backward. Unlike many other birds, they lack a hind toe. The toes are tipped with small but curved, sharp claws for grasping prey and branches.
Size Differences Between Males and Females
There are some size differences between male and female Common Nighthawks. On average:
- Males tend to be slightly smaller, weighing 2.0 – 3.5 oz (57 – 99 g)
- Females tend to be slightly larger, weighing 2.8 – 4.2 oz (79 – 119 g)
Females also tend to have longer wingspans than males, averaging about 2 inches (5 cm) longer. The size dimorphism is believed to reduce competition for food between the sexes since the smaller males can pursue smaller prey.
Size Throughout the Year
A nighthawk’s size can fluctuate over the course of a year as it prepares for migration and breeding. Prior to spring migration, Common Nighthawks put on extra fat reserves to fuel their long journeys north. During this time they may weigh 10-30% more than during the breeding season when food is scarcer. They also molt and grow new feathers before migrating to ensure their plumage is in top condition for aerial displays.
Size Relative to Other Birds
The Common Nighthawk is classified as a medium-sized bird compared to other North American species. Here is how it sizes up against some other birds:
Bird | Length | Wingspan |
---|---|---|
Bald Eagle | 28-38 in | 72-90 in |
American Crow | 15-20 in | 33-39 in |
Mourning Dove | 9-13 in | 17-24 in |
Common Nighthawk | 7-10 in | 21-27 in |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 2.8-3.5 in | 3.1-4.3 in |
As the table shows, the Common Nighthawk is dwarfed by large raptors like the Bald Eagle but is larger than tiny hummingbirds. Its medium size allows it to hunt a variety of insect prey.
Size of Nestlings
When Common Nighthawk chicks (called nestlings) first hatch, they are quite small, weighing only about 0.14 ounces (4 grams). But they grow quickly on a diet of insects provided by their parents. Here is how their size changes as they develop:
Age | Length | Weight |
---|---|---|
Hatching | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) | 0.14 oz (4 g) |
5 days | 3.5 in (9 cm) | 0.88 oz (25 g) |
10 days | 5.5 in (14 cm) | 2 oz (56 g) |
Fledging (17-20 days) | 6-7 in (15-18 cm) | 2.5-3.5 oz (70-100 g) |
Nestlings are ready to leave the nest by about 17-20 days old, at which point they are nearly as big as the adults. Their rapid growth allows them to fledge quickly and escape ground predators.
Unusual Size Records
While average size measurements are useful guidelines, there are always outliers on the extreme small and large ends of the spectrum. Here are some unusually large and small Common Nighthawks that have been documented:
- A nighthawk found in Michigan in 1938 had a wingspan of 30 in (76 cm), the largest on record
- An unusually small male nighthawk was documented in Ontario in 1980 with a wingspan of only 17 in (43 cm)
- The heaviest Common Nighthawk ever recorded weighed 4.9 oz (139 g), well above the normal range
- A nestling banded in Saskatchewan in 2012 weighed a tiny 0.5 oz (14 g) at one week old, less than half the normal weight
While these extreme sizes are interesting anomalies, the vast majority of Common Nighthawks measure within the typical size ranges for the species.
Size and Identification
The Common Nighthawk’s medium size, long wings, cryptic plumage, and distinctive flight style make it easy to identify as it zigzags across the night sky chasing insects. However, there are some other similar looking birds that could potentially be confused with nighthawks based on their size and appearance:
Whip-poor-will
Whip-poor-wills are in the same family as nighthawks and share their crepuscular insect-eating lifestyle. They are nearly identical in size to Common Nighthawks but have more robust bodies, shorter wings, and bold white throat patches.
Chuck-will’s-widow
These nightjars are slightly larger than Common Nighthawks with plumage that is overall browner and grayer without prominent markings. Their range overlaps with nighthawks in the southeastern US.
Chimney Swifts
While swifts are not closely related to nighthawks, their silhouette in flight can appear similar. But swifts have much shorter wings and tails and more erratic flight than the graceful Common Nighthawk.
Eastern Whip-poor-will
The Eastern Whip-poor-will is another nightjar species that is almost identical in size to the Common Nighthawk. However, whip-poor-wills have bold white throat patches, shorter wings, and lack the white wing patches when in flight.
Conclusion
With its 20+ inch wingspan, 9 inch body length, and feathery lightweight frame, the Common Nighthawk is considered a medium-sized bird, albeit on the larger end of the spectrum. It is built for speed and maneuverability in flight, perfectly adapted to hunt insects at night and migrate long distances. The next time you see a nighthawk gracefully swooping by, you can appreciate its medium size that enables this crepuscular lifestyle.