Common Nighthawk: neither nocturnal, nor a hawk

Sunset, and the Common Nighthawk flies. © SB

The Common Nighthawks swept up from their rail fence roosts in the late afternoon to soar over the Frenchman River campground in search of insects.

And that was a very good thing, as there were perhaps 17 million mosquitoes per square inch that evening. And so the Nighthawks dined well. (Although perhaps less well than their voracious prey. Not that mosquitoes are overly fond of me, but I'm told by camping companions that they were vicious.)

During the days we stayed at Grasslands National Park, I came to love their eerie, sharp Meemp, meemmp calls, and to look forward to their booming dives. Or, maybe it's as they pull out of the dive that they boom. Regardless, this swift, slim birds can be startling LOUD!

Bark bird: A Common Nighthawk resting during the day on a rail fence. © SB

To identify Common Nighthawks in their early morning and late afternoon flights, look for a dark form with a bright white stripe about one third of the way up from the tips of their wings. You might also notice the white V of neck feathers. 

To identify Common Nighthawks during the day, cross your fingers and look for bumps on logs... Their bark-patterned feathers offer them excellent camouflage!  

And despite their name, Common Nighthawks are neither strictly nocturnal, nor closely related to hawks. But they are fairly common, and can be found across North America.

Common Nighthawk in flight  © SB

  

Daytime, and two Common Nighthawks rest on the fence
around the Frenchman River Campground at Grasslands National Park. © SB

What are these? Common Nighthawks (Engoulevent d'Amérique)

Location: Frenchman River Campground, Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan.
Photo date: June 13 and 14, 2016.

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