Common Nighthawks, Common Nighthawk Pictures, Common Nighthawk Facts

Illustration by Chuck Ripper

Map

Audio

This goatsucker performs flight displays and roosts conspicuously. Normally solitary, it sometimes forages or migrates in loose flocks. Polytypic. Length 8.8–9.6" (22–24 cm).

Identification Varies geographically. Upperparts black to paler brownish gray; crown and upper back darkest; paler markings concentrated on upperwing coverts, scapulars, tertials. Underparts barred blackish brown and white or buff, chest and malar area darker, spotted with buff or dull white. Adult male: white throat patch, subterminal tail band, and primary patch about halfway between bend of wing and wing tip. Adult female: throat patch buffy, primary patch smaller, tail band reduced or lacking. Juvenile: generally paler, more uniform above with finer spotting and vermiculations.

Geographic Variation Nine subspecies, 7 in North America. Eastern birds darkest, blackish above, less mottling on back; nominate minor (large), chapmani (smaller). Great Plains-Great Basin-Southwestern birds paler, grayer; henryi (medium size), howelli (large), sennetti (large), and aserriensis (small). Western hesperis relatively dark, grayer, large. Juvenile minor and chapmani blackish; sennetti palest; hesperis, howelli, aserriensis intermediate; henryi rusty.

Similar Species Position of wing patch, lack of buff spotting on primaries, pointier wing, and darker underwing coverts eliminate Lesser. Separation from Antillean problematic; best told by voice, but Antillean also usually smaller, shorter winged, and buffier on belly and undertail coverts.

Voice Call: nasal peent by male in flight; multiple-syllable variation may suggest Antillean. Male courtship dive vibrates primaries, producing “boom.”

Status and Distribution Common. Breeding: open habitats. Migration: in spring, arrives early April–mid-June, peak May, arrival later in North, West; departs late July–October, peak September, stragglers into November. Winter: South America; casual Gulf Coast. Vagrant: casual/accidental, mainly fall, Hawaii, northern Canada, and United Kingdom.

Population Some declines in parts of East.

—From the National Geographic book Complete Birds of North America, 2006

More Nighthawks, Swifts, and Swallows

Bird Features

Backyard Birding Central

Want to learn more about our feathered friends of the sky? Visit our Backyard Birding site for facts, photos, videos, and more.
What's That Bird?

Identify your backyard visitors in a flash! Just answer four simple questions to search our database of 150 backyard birds common to Canada and the U.S.

See More Bird Features »

Photo Galleries

See More Bird Photos »

Bird News

Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?

Seemingly freak bird die-offs in Arkansas and elsewhere are making headlines. But is it just hype? And what causes airborne die-offs?
Photos: Bizarre Arkansas Bird Die-Off

Birds were falling from the sky and fish were found floating dead en masse in two recent but unrelated Arkansas die-offs, experts say.

See More Animal News »

Games & More

See More Animal Games »

Birds A-Z

Animal News

Bird Books

National Geographic Magazine

Bowerbirds Gallery

To woo a "Mary," bowerbirds decorate with shells, cans, even pink paper clips.
Counting Cranes Gallery

How many whooping cranes are there? Not enough. See photos of these birds in action.

Newsletters

Explorer Moment: Ray of Hope

Biologist Andrea Marshall leads her team in discovering new and conserving known manta ray species.
Sylvia Earle on Women in Science

Sylvia Earle reflects on her scientific career and on gender obstacles she faced along the way.

From the Magazine

Gannets Pictures

Champion divers but clumsy landers, doting parents but hostile neighbors—northern gannets abound in contradictions.
Estonia's Ural Owls

Photographer Sven Začek provides an intimate view of this large raptor.