Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
nature photography
GALLERIES > BIRDS > CAPRIMULGIFORMES > CAPRIMULGIDAE > COMMON NIGHTHAWK [Chordeiles minor]    [plot on map]


Common Nighthawk Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, TX
GPS: 29.5N, -94.5W, elev=3' MAP
Date: August 28, 2009
ID : 7C2V2053 [3888 x 2592]

Common Nighthawk Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Magee Marsh (Crane Creek), OH
GPS: 41.6N, -83.2W, elev=573' MAP
Date: May 15, 2010
ID : 7C2V8540 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

Common Nighthawk Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Corpus Christi (Hazel Bazemore Park), TX
GPS: 27.9N, -97.6W, elev=55' MAP
Date: August 30, 2009
ID : 7C2V3327 [3888 x 2592]

Common Nighthawk Image @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Chicago (Montrose Magic Hedge), IL
GPS: 42.0N, -87.6W, elev=593' MAP
Date: May 22, 2010
ID : 7C2V9177 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

Common Nighthawk Image @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Mio, MI (Deyarmond Valley Rd & Watson Rd)
GPS: 44.6N, -84.1W, elev=1,133' MAP
Date: June 12, 2009
ID : 7C2V9190 [3888 x 2592]

Common Nighthawk Image @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Mio, MI (Deyarmond Valley Rd & Watson Rd)
GPS: 44.6N, -84.1W, elev=1,133' MAP
Date: June 12, 2009
ID : 7C2V9203 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

Common Nighthawk Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Boundary Bay, B.C., Canada
GPS: 48.9N, -123.3W, elev=0' MAP
Date: September 3, 2008
ID : 7C2V8564 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

SPECIES INFO

The Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, is a nightjar.

The adults have dark with brown, grey and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; the long wings are black and reveal a white bar when in flight. The tail is dark with white barring; the underparts are white with black bars. The adult male has a white throat; the female has a light brown throat.

Their breeding habitat is open country across North America. They usually nest on bare ground, sometimes in raised locations including stumps or gravel roofs. They especially favor burned areas in forests. The two eggs are laid directly on bare ground—there is no nest. Incubation is performed largely by the female and lasts for about 20 days. Young fledge at about 20 days of age. There may be a second brood in the southern part of the United States.

These birds winter in South America. They migrate in flocks. The Common Nighthawk is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

They catch flying insects on the wing, mainly foraging near dawn and dusk (crepuscular), sometimes at night with a full moon or near street lighting.

The call is a short peet usually heard overhead. The male performs an aerial display during courtship, creating a booming sound near the end of a steep dive. The sound is produced by air rushing through the wingtips.

Common Nighthawks are called bullbats in many parts of the United States. The origin of this name is not clear. The erratic flight and crepuscular habits of the nighthawk resemble those of bats. In addition, the name (perhaps bull) may refer to the loud booming sound of the male's display.

The scientific name for this species, minor, leads to some confusion. Originally this species was placed in genus Caprimulgus, and it is indeed smaller than some other members of that genus, such as the Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus. However, with the Common Nighthawk moved to the genus Chordeiles, it is in the odd position of being named minor, even though it is larger than the Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis.




bird photography
common_nighthawk's Range Map Click here to see the Common Nighthawk's range map!
Listen to the Common Nighthawk Song:



HOME · ABOUT ME · GALLERY · STOCKLIST · VIDEO · SEARCH · PRESS · CONTACT · BLOG · NEW STUFF
nature photography
All images and video © Copyright 2006-2024 Christopher Taylor, Content and maps by their respective owner. All rights reserved.
nature photography