Chordeiles minor
The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), often colloquially known as the 'bullbat,' is a cryptic, medium-sized aerial insectivore belonging to the Caprimulgiformes order, making it a close relative of other nightjars, though not a true hawk despite its name. This species measures approximately 22-25 cm (8.7-9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of 51-61 cm (20-24 in) and weighs 55-98 g (1.9-3.5 oz). Its plumage is a mottled blend of dark browns, grays, and black, providing excellent camouflage ag...
Common Nighthawks thrive in open country, including grasslands, savannas, forest clearings, agricultural lands, and increasingly, urban and suburban areas with gravel rooftops, from lowlands to moderate elevations.
Common Nighthawks are obligate aerial insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on a wide variety of flying insects caught in flight, including moths, beetles, mosquitoes, gnats, ants, and grasshoppers.
Primarily crepuscular, Common Nighthawks are most active at dawn and dusk, although they may forage on moonlit nights or overcast days; they roost cryptically on tree branches or the ground during the day. Their foraging strategy involves continuous, erratic aerial hawking, capturing flying insec...
The Common Nighthawk exhibits an extensive breeding range across most of North America, stretching from central Canada (including portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories) south through the majority of the contiguous United States, excluding some arid southwestern deserts and coastal areas...
Least Concern
- Despite their name, Common Nighthawks are not hawks; they belong to the nightjar family, known for their crepuscular habits and cryptic plumage. - The 'booming' sound produced by males during courtship dives is not vocal but generated by air rushing through specialized primary wing feathers. - ...