Nighthawk
Encyclopedia
A nighthawk is a nocturnal bird
of the subfamily Chordeilinae, within the nightjar
family, Caprimulgidae. Nighthawks are medium-sized New World
birds, with long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They usually nest on the ground. They feed on flying insects. The Least Nighthawk
, at 16 centimetres (6.3 in) and 23 gram (0.811301128417575 oz), is the smallest of all Caprimulgiformes
. Nightjars are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats (the Latin
for goatsucker is Caprimulgus).
Nighthawks have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. Some species perch facing along a branch, rather than across it as birds usually do. This helps to conceal them during the day. The female lays two patterned eggs directly onto bare ground.
They are mostly active in the late evening and early morning or at night, and feed on moths and other large flying insects. The bill opens very wide, and has a slightly hooked upper tip.
Nighthawks are similar in most respects to the nightjars, but have shorter bills, and plumage that is less soft. Nighthawks are less strictly nocturnal than many nightjars, and may be seen hunting when there is still light in the sky.
The flight of the Common Nighthawk is erratic and jerky, as it attempts to prey on various flying insects. Its call is a short, harsh, buzzy sound. The white bands on its underwings are easily seen as it flies in the evening, at an altitude that is often well above the treetops. Also of note is nighthawks' mating ritual. Males will gain considerable altitude, then perform a power dive; as they pull up from the dive, the wings make a sudden, low sound that is called "booming".
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
of the subfamily Chordeilinae, within the nightjar
Nightjar
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats . Some New World species are named as nighthawks...
family, Caprimulgidae. Nighthawks are medium-sized New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
birds, with long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They usually nest on the ground. They feed on flying insects. The Least Nighthawk
Least Nighthawk
The Least Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela....
, at 16 centimetres (6.3 in) and 23 gram (0.811301128417575 oz), is the smallest of all Caprimulgiformes
Caprimulgiformes
The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes a number of birds with global distribution . They are generally insectivorous and nocturnal...
. Nightjars are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats (the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for goatsucker is Caprimulgus).
Nighthawks have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. Some species perch facing along a branch, rather than across it as birds usually do. This helps to conceal them during the day. The female lays two patterned eggs directly onto bare ground.
They are mostly active in the late evening and early morning or at night, and feed on moths and other large flying insects. The bill opens very wide, and has a slightly hooked upper tip.
Nighthawks are similar in most respects to the nightjars, but have shorter bills, and plumage that is less soft. Nighthawks are less strictly nocturnal than many nightjars, and may be seen hunting when there is still light in the sky.
The flight of the Common Nighthawk is erratic and jerky, as it attempts to prey on various flying insects. Its call is a short, harsh, buzzy sound. The white bands on its underwings are easily seen as it flies in the evening, at an altitude that is often well above the treetops. Also of note is nighthawks' mating ritual. Males will gain considerable altitude, then perform a power dive; as they pull up from the dive, the wings make a sudden, low sound that is called "booming".
Species
- Band-tailed NighthawkBand-tailed NighthawkThe Band-tailed Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Nyctiprogne leucopyga - Plain-tailed NighthawkPlain-tailed NighthawkThe Plain-tailed Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitat is dry savanna.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Nyctiprogne vielliardi - formerly in Chordeiles - Nacunda NighthawkNacunda NighthawkThe Nacunda Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is placed in the monotypic genus Podager....
, Podager nacunda - Rufous-bellied NighthawkRufous-bellied NighthawkThe Rufous-bellied Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
Lurocalis rufiventris - Short-tailed NighthawkShort-tailed NighthawkThe Short-tailed Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Lurocalis semitorquatus - Antillean NighthawkAntillean NighthawkThe Antillean Nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii, is a nightjar.The adults are dark with brown, grey and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; the long wings are black and show a white bar in flight. The tail is dark with white barring; the underparts are white with black bars. The adult...
, Chordeiles gundlachii - Lesser NighthawkLesser NighthawkThe Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis, is a nightjar found throughout a large part of the Americas.The adults are dark with brown, grey and white patterning on the upperparts and breast; the long upperwings are black and show a white bar in flight. The tail is dark with white barring; the...
, Chordeiles acutipennis - Common NighthawkCommon NighthawkThe Common Nighthawk is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark , displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird becomes invisible by day. Once aerial, with its buoyant but erratic flight,...
, Chordeiles minor - Least NighthawkLeast NighthawkThe Least Nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela....
, Chordeiles pusillus - Sand-colored Nighthawk, Chordeiles rupestris