North American field guide
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Also known as:Bullbats
Identification
Field notes
23-25 cm (9-10") Common and widespread. Open woodlands, urban areas. Sits lengthwise on limbs. Often seen in evenings catching flying insects with swift and fluttery flight. Nests on flat-topped buildings. Active day and night.
Brown, gray, and white mottled above, light with dark barring below; long, pointed wings with bold white patches; tail slightly forked.
Hollow booming sound made by male in courtship display flight.
Song: a nasal "peent".
Details in the field
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Common Nighthawk
Credit: Ignacio A. RodríguezCommon Nighthawk
Credit: jeffrusinowVoices: Common Nighthawk
Credit: Cornell Lab of OrnithologyWhere it lives
Distribution map
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Common Nighthawk
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 7
- Where was the white seen in flight ?
- On the wings and underbody · Mainly on the wings · Unknown
- Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?
- Yes · Unknown
- How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
- In flight
- What SHAPE were the wings ?
- Pointed · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Swallow-like · Hawk-like
Rule 2 15 criteria · confidence 8
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)