Same area Another location near Chadron SP, Dawes County, Nebraska, US. Both parents care for young, feeding them regurgitated insects. More Common Nighthawk photos. The Common Nighthawk measures 2225 cm in length, displays a wing span of 21-24 / 5461 cm, weighs 62-98 g, and has a life span of 45 years. The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a slim bodied, medium-sized bird (nine inches long), with long, slender, pointed wings (a twenty-two inch wingspan). In the glow of twilight, the Lesser Nighthawk flies almost like a butterfly on buoyant wings with its mouth wide open, inhaling insects that fly near. A Common Nighthawk was photographed at Bushy Park, Greater London, early afternoon on Saturday 19 October, representing one of the more surprising rare bird occurrences of recent years.. Its feathers are a mottled swirl of brown, tan, white, and gray that so well camouflage the bird on the ground that it seems to just disappear when it lands and settles. The highly camouflaged Lesser Nighthawk sits motionless during the day, but takes flight as the desert heat starts to dissipate.

All photos by Jeff Lewis. Often roosts along tree branches or on the ground. CBC Photo Gallery. Different location and date The species, which was listed as a common bird in steep decline ( PDF ) in The State of the Birds 2014, breeds throughout most of North America, from northwestern Canada to Panama.

You can find them in a wide variety of open-ground habitats that have lots of flying insects. Populations of Common Nighthawk have plunged, with a cumulative decline of 61 percent between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The female Common Nighthawk performs all incubation duties, but will leave the nest to feed. The common nighthawk is one of three members of the nightjar family found in the region during the summer months. This widespread and familiar bird may hunt by day or night, catching flying insects in the air.

Life span: Relatively unknown, longest recorded was 9-10 years. These eBird maps show the distribution of Common Nighthawk in Canada and the lower 48 states in June and October from 2004 to 2014. The Common Nighthawk is a familiar sight on summer evenings in the state as it is often seen over urban areas as it chases flying insects. A white bar across the wings flashes against the darkening sky as a gurgled laugh reverberates in the air. Common Nighthawk. Distinctive fluttering flight style, with wings usually held in a V-shape between bursts of flaps and maneuvers to snatch insects.