What is the difference between a nighthawk and a Whippoorwill?

Quick Answer

Nighthawks and whippoorwills are both medium-sized nocturnal birds found in North America. The main differences between them are:

• Appearance – Nighthawks have long, pointed wings and are brownish-gray. Whippoorwills are more rounded and have brown, black, and white plumage.
• Range – Nighthawks are found across much of North America except for the southeast. Whippoorwills live in the southeastern United States.
• Habitat – Nighthawks prefer open areas like grasslands, deserts, and cities. Whippoorwills live in forests and woods.
• Diet – Nighthawks eat insects caught on the wing. Whippoorwills eat insects and other small prey picked from the ground.
• Nesting – Nighthawks nest on bare ground. Whippoorwills nest on the ground in leaf litter.
• Sounds – The nighthawk makes a loud “peent” call when diving. The whippoorwill is named for its whip-poor-will song.

So in summary, nighthawks are larger, have pointed wings, live in more open areas, and make a “peent” call, while whippoorwills are smaller, live in forests, and have their distinctive whip-poor-will song. The two birds occupy separate ranges across North America.

Appearance

Nighthawks and whippoorwills are both medium-sized nocturnal birds, but they have distinct appearances:

Nighthawk:

• Body length: 9-10 inches
• Wingspan: 22-26 inches
• Weight: 2-5 oz
• Pointed, long wings
• Short legs and feet
• Short, hooked bill
• Cryptic brownish-gray plumage with black and white markings

Whippoorwill:

• Body length: 8-10 inches
• Wingspan: 17-18 inches
• Weight: 1.5-2 oz
• Rounded, broad wings
• Short legs and feet
• Very short bill
• Disruptive plumage pattern of gray, brown, and black with white throat

Nighthawks have longer, more pointed wings compared to the broader, rounded wings of whippoorwills. Nighthawks also tend to be slightly larger. The plumage patterns help camouflage each species when roosting during the day.

Range and Habitat

Nighthawks and whippoorwills occupy different ranges and prefer different habitats:

Nighthawk range:

• Found across most of North America except for southeastern states
• Migrate long distances between breeding and wintering grounds
• Winters in South America

Whippoorwill range:

• Found in southeastern United States from Texas to Florida to Virginia
• Do not migrate long distances; winter in southern parts of range

Nighthawk habitat:

• Open areas including grasslands, deserts, rock outcrops, burned forests, logged areas
• Also found in cities nesting on gravel rooftops

Whippoorwill habitat:

• Forests, especially deciduous or mixed woods with little undergrowth
• Woodland edges and openings
• More likely found in rural rather than urban areas

The nighthawk’s preference for open habitats keeps it largely separate from the forest-dwelling whippoorwill. Nighthawks range much farther north in summer and migrate longer distances than whippoorwills.

Diet and Hunting

As nocturnal insectivores, nighthawks and whippoorwills show adaptations for catching insects at night:

Nighthawk diet:

• Eats flying insects including ants, beetles, moths, mosquitoes, flies
• Catches insects on the wing
• Hunts by flying with mouth open, using large mouth and expanded throat pouch
• Has whisker-like microcilia around mouth to help detect airborne prey

Whippoorwill diet:

• Eats insects, spiders, small frogs, lizards
• Catches prey by swooping down from perch or while walking on ground
• Hunts by sight when moon is bright or waits for prey to come near
• Swallows prey whole

The nighthawk’s aerial style of hunting contrasts with the whippoorwill’s strategy of perching and ambushing prey on the ground. This correlates with their habitat preferences for open vs. forested areas.

Nesting

Nighthawks and whippoorwills demonstrate very different nesting strategies:

Nighthawk nesting:

• Does not build a nest, simply lays eggs on bare ground, gravel, or flat roof
• Clutch size is 2 eggs
• Incubation is 17-20 days
• Chicks can walk around and feed themselves soon after hatching
• Fledging occurs at 17-20 days
• Female does majority of incubation and chick care; male defends territory

Whippoorwill nesting:

• Lays eggs on ground in leaf litter or patch of dead leaves
• Clutch size is 2 eggs
• Incubation is 18-21 days
• Chicks are mobile soon after hatching but require parental care
• Fledging occurs at 16-17 days
• Male assists with incubation at night; both parents feed chicks

The nighthawk’s minimalist approach of laying eggs directly on the ground reflects its habitat preferences, while the whippoorwill shows adaptations for nesting camouflage in forest conditions.

Sounds

The vocalizations of nighthawks and whippoorwills are distinct:

Nighthawk sounds:

• In flight, makes a loud “peent” call when diving
• The “peent” call is thought to communicate territorial boundaries
• Also makes booming, rushing noises with wings during courtship dives

Whippoorwill sounds:

• Named for its song of “whip-poor-will” calls
• The whip-poor-will song advertises territory and attracts mates
• Also makes soft “kuk” calls when communicating near nest
• Can make bill-snapping sounds during disturbance

The nighthawk’s loud dives contrast sharply with the softer vocalizations of the whippoorwill on its forest breeding grounds. Their unique calls help identify these signature nocturnal birds even when not seen.

Identification Tips

Use these tips to identify nighthawks and whippoorwills:

Nighthawk identification:

• Look for pointed wings and swift, erratic flight at dusk or night
• Listen for loud “peent” calls made on dives
• Note long, narrow white wing patch near wing tip
• Watch for boom and rush noises during breeding displays

Whippoorwill identification:

• Listen for “whip-poor-will” song in forests at dawn and dusk
• Note broad head and body shape
• Watch for moth-like flight low over ground
• Look for white tips on outer tail feathers when viewed from below

Paying attention to habitat, flight style, vocalizations, and plumage can help identify these nocturnal birds even without getting a detailed look.

Key Differences Summary

Conclusion

In summary, nighthawks and whippoorwills demonstrate key differences in their appearance, geographic ranges, habitat preferences, foraging strategies, nest sites, and vocalizations. Nighthawks occupy more open and urban areas across much of North America, while whippoorwills are forest birds of the southeastern states. Paying attention to visual and auditory identification tips can help observers distinguish these unique nocturnal birds. Their distinctions highlight how evolution produces specialized adaptations to fill different ecological niches.