The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a medium-sized nocturnal bird found throughout much of North America. Often confused with the whip-poor-will, the nighthawk is actually not a hawk at all but belongs to the nightjar family. The nighthawk gets its name from its loud “peent” call which is often heard at dusk and dawn. Read on to learn more about the habits and behaviors of this fascinating bird.
Description
The common nighthawk is a cryptically colored bird with long, pointed wings and a short tail. Adults measure 8 to 10 inches from bill to tail and have a wingspan around 22 inches. Their plumage is mottled brown, gray, and black which allows them to blend into their surroundings when roosting during the day. A distinctive white bar is visible across their wings when in flight. The nighthawk lacks a brightly colored throat patch, unlike many other nightjars. Their eyes are large and dark. The bill is very short with a wide gape and bristles around the mouth to help capture insects while in flight.
Range and Habitat
Common nighthawks breed throughout much of North America from southern Canada to Baja California and Florida. Their breeding range extends south to Central America. They migrate to southern South America for the winter. During migration, large flocks can be observed migrating together on warm nights.
Nighthawks utilize a variety of open habitats including grasslands, deserts, rock outcrops, logged areas, burned sites, peat bogs, and urban environments. They are found at elevations from sea level to about 9000 feet. For nesting, they require areas of bare ground such as gravel rooftops, logged sites, rock outcrops, or cleared patches of ground. They avoid dense forests but may forage over open areas within forested landscapes.
Diet
As aerial insectivores, common nighthawks feed almost exclusively on flying insects. They capture insects on the wing by opening their large mouths while in flight. Their diet includes ants, flies, beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and other flying arthropods. They are most actively foraging in the hour before sunset until after midnight.
Nighthawks fly high when foraging, typically 100-300 feet above the ground. They exhibit a distinctive foraging style of quick turns, dodges, and dives as they pursue insects. Their wide mouths allow them to easily scoop up insects while maneuvering at high speeds.
Breeding and Nesting
Common nighthawks form breeding pairs during their spring migration. Courtship displays including diving flights and booming noises made with their wings can be observed in late spring and early summer.
Nighthawks do not build nests. Instead females lay their eggs directly on bare ground such as gravel rooftops or rocky outcrops. The eggs are well-camouflaged to avoid detection. Clutches contain 1-2 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 18-20 days. The eggs hatch in mid to late summer.
Young nighthawks are precocial and able to move around shortly after hatching. However, they rely on their parents for brooding, shade from the sun, and protection from predators. The adults also feed the young by regurgitating insects for them. After 25-35 days, the young will make their first flight and soon become independent of their parents.
Migration
Nighthawks are long distance migrants, with some populations wintering in South America. They often migrate together in large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands of birds. Their long, pointed wings allow them to fly long distances without frequent flapping. Some nighthawks may migrate over 2500 miles between their breeding and wintering grounds.
Fall migration occurs August through October as they travel to their wintering grounds. Return migration to the breeding grounds occurs March through May. Nighthawks are one of the last spring migrants to arrive back in northern regions.
Threats and Conservation
Overall nighthawk numbers have declined significantly since the 1960s, with steepest declines in northeastern regions. Causes for the declines are not completely understood but likely include loss of breeding and foraging habitat, reductions in insect prey abundance, predation, mortality from collisions with vehicles and buildings during migration, and pesticide exposure.
To help conserve nighthawk populations, recommendations include protecting known breeding sites, reducing pesticide usage, and minimizing artificial night lighting which can negatively impact their foraging abilities. Raising awareness and monitoring populations also help with ongoing conservation efforts for this species.
Fun Facts
- Common nighthawks are not actually hawks at all. They belong to the nightjar family which includes whip-poor-wills and chuck-will’s-widows.
- The “booming” sound made by their wings during courtship dives can be heard up to 0.5 miles away.
- Nighthawks are sometimes observed foraging around streetlights to take advantage of bugs drawn to the light.
- Their eggs are cryptically colored to camouflage on the gravel or bare ground where they are laid.
- Young nighthawks have been observed making their first flight at 25-35 days old.
Conclusion
The common nighthawk is a fascinating nocturnal bird known for its aerial acrobatics and loud vocalizations. Despite being common, populations have declined significantly in recent decades for reasons not fully understood. With large breeding and wintering ranges, loss of habitat and food sources likely contribute to their decreasing numbers. Continued monitoring and conservation efforts are needed to protect the common nighthawk and other aerial insectivores. Their declining numbers serve as an indicator of broader declines in insect populations and environmental health.
