Chordeiles minor

Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles_minor) breed throughout much of North America and parts of Central America. Their winter distribution is less well known, but they are believed to range throughout middle South America in the lowlands east of the Andes.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )

Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) breed throughout much of North America and parts of Central America. Their winter distribution is less well known, but they are believed to range throughout middle South America in the lowlands east of the Andes.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Nesting range extends from southern Yukon, southern Mackenzie, northern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, central Quebec, southern Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia south virtually throughout North America to California, south-central Nevada, Arizona, southern Texas, Gulf Coast, and southern Florida in the United States; also Middle America from Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico, south through central Guatemala to western Honduras, and along Atlantic slope locally from Tamaulipas through southern Veracruz, and in Belize, eastern Honduras, northern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and possibly in southeastern Colombia in South America (Poulin et al. 1996).

During the northern winter the range includes South America south to northern Argentina (Poulin et al. 1996).

In migration this species occurs throughout Middle America and the West Indies.

Common nighthawks are medium-sized birds. They are 22 to 24 cm long and weigh 65 to 98 g. Like other members of the Caprimulgidae family, they have very large mouths and eyes. They are cryptically colored in many shades of brown. They have a notched tail and long, slender, pointed wings with white patches on the primary feathers. Males have a white tail band near the tip of the tail and a white throat patch. Females do not have a tail band and are more buff-colored on the throat. Both sexes have bold barring on the chest and belly, though the light parts tend to be whiter on males and more buff-colored on females.

Nine subspecies of common nighthawks have been described. These subspecies are separated by different colors in their plumage. Common nighthawks are often confused with two very similar species of nighthawks: Lesser nighthawks (Chordeiles_acutipennis) and Antillean nighthawks (Chordeiles_gundlachii).

Range mass: 65 to 98 g.

Range length: 22 to 24 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.4421 W.

Common nighthawks are medium-sized birds. They are 22 to 24 cm long and weigh 65 to 98 g. Like other members of the Caprimulgidae, they have large mouths and eyes, and are cryptically colored. They have a notched tail and long, slender, pointed wings with white patches on the primaries. Males have a white tail band near the tip of the tail and a white throat patch. Females do not have a tail band and are more buff-colored on the throat. Both sexes have bold barring on the chest and belly, though light parts tend to be whiter on males and more buff-colored on females.

Nine subspecies of common nighthawks have been described. These are differentiated by light and dark color variations in the plumage. Common nighthawks are often confused with two very similar species of nighthawks: Lesser nighthawks (Chordeiles acutipennis) and Antillean nighthawks (Chordeiles gundlachii). Lesser nighthawks are slightly smaller than Common Nighthawks, with buffy undertail-coverts instead of white, and with the white wing-patch of the primaries slightly closer to the wing tip. They also forage closer to the ground than do common nighthawks. Antillean nighthawks are virtually indistinguishable from common nighthawks in the field but by call, a nasal killikidick with the same tone as common nighthawks’ peent. In the hand, Antillean nighthawks’ wing measurements are slightly shorter than common nighthawks’.

Range mass: 65 to 98 g.

Range length: 22 to 24 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.4421 W.

Length: 24 cm

Weight: 64 grams

Common nighthawks breed in open habitats such coastal dunes and beaches, woodland clearings, grasslands, savannas, sagebrush plains, and open forests. They will also use human habitats, such as logged or burned areas of forests, farm fields, and cities.

Common nighthawks choose nest sites on the ground in open areas with some cover from grasses, shrubs, logs, or boulders. They do not build nests. Instead, they lay their eggs directly on the sand, gravel, leaves or bare rock that cover the ground. Common nighthawks sometimes nest on flat gravel roofs of houses.

Little is known about the migration routes or winter habitat of common nighthawks. They have been seen migrating across wetlands, farmland, river valleys, open woodlands, and coastal dunes. They probably prefer open areas for their wintering grounds.

Range elevation: sea level (low) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural

Systems

• Terrestrial
• Freshwater
• Marine

Common nighthawks breeding habitats include coastal dunes and beaches, woodland clearings, grasslands, savannas, sagebrush plains, and open forests. They will also use habitat altered by human activity including logged or burned areas of forests, farm fields, and cities.

Common nighthawks choose nest sites on the ground in open areas with some cover from grasses, shrubs, logs, or boulders. They do not build nests. Instead, eggs are laid on a variety of substrates including sand, gravel, leaves, and bare rock. In areas of human habitation, common nighthawks often nest on flat, gravel roofs.

Little is known about the migration routes or winter habitat of common nighthawks. They have been seen migrating across wetlands, farmland, river valleys, open woodlands, and coastal dunes. They are presumed to prefer open country in their wintering sites and have been seen flying over cities and towns.

Range elevation: sea level (low) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural

Comments: Habitats include mountains and plains in open and semi-open areas: open coniferous forests, savanna, grasslands, fields, vicinity of cities and towns. Nesting occurs on the ground on a bare site in an open area. In some areas, this species also nests on flat gravel roofs of buildings, perhaps related to prey availability at artificial lights. It prefers areas with sandy soil in the southern United States.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Migrates through Costa Rica September-early November and March-April (Stiles and Skutch 1989). In Colombia, uncommon to fairly common fall migrant late August-late November, uncommon to rare in spring migration March-April (Hilty and Brown 1986).

Common nighthawks are crepuscular. They are most active at dawn and dusk, but occasionally feed during the day in low light conditions, like stormy weather or fog. They use their wide mouths to “hawk” insects in the air. Their large eyes help them find and distinguish among prey items in the dark. They also have a tapetum, a mirror-like structure at the back of each eye that reflects and helps them see in the dark. They fly around, changing directions quickly, and eating up 50 different insect prey species. Most of their prey species are queen ants (Hymenoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), and true bugs (Homoptera). It also includes moths (Lepidoptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera), flies (Diptera), wasps (Hymenoptera), crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and other insects. In urban areas, common nighthawks often fly around streetlights or bright yard lights, catching insects that are attracted to the light.

Common Nighthawks drink while in flying by skimming the surface of lakes, streams, or water troughs with their bills.

Animal Foods: insects

Common nighthawks are crepuscular. They are most active at dawn and dusk, and rarely feed at night. They have been reported to occasionally feed during the day in low light conditions (stormy weather or fog, for example) They use their large mouths to “hawk” insects in the air. Their large eyes help them find and distinguish among prey items in the dark. Like owls, common nighthawks have a tapetum (a mirror-like structure at the back of each eye that reflects light to the retina) that increases their ability to see in the dark. They fly with erratic, bat-like movements, taking as many as 50 different insect prey species. Studies indicate that the majority of the diet is made up of queen ants (Hymenoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), and true bugs (Homoptera). It also includes moths (Lepidoptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera), flies (Diptera), wasps (Hymenoptera), crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and other insects. In the urban parts of their range, common nighthawks are often seen flying around streetlights or bright yard lights, catching insects that are attracted to the light.

Common Nighthawks drink while in flight by skimming the surface of lakes, streams, or water troughs with their bills.

Animal Foods: insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Comments: Feeds on flying insects (e.g., mosquitoes, moths, beetles, flies, caddisflies). Forages at night or during the day. Catches insects high in the air or close to the ground. May forage on insects around artificial lights. Young are fed insects by regurgitation.

Common nighthawks help to control populations of the insects that they prey on. They also compete with bats and lesser nighthawks Chordeiles_acutipennis for food.

Corvus, owls, Falco sparverius, Mephitinae, Serpentes, Felis silvestris and canids such as canis latrans, Vulpes, and Canis familiaris are predators of common nighthawks.

Females and young rely on their cryptic brown coloration to hide them from predators. Males do not guard the nest but will defend it by diving over it and booming with their wings or beating their wings and hissing. Females may pretend to be injured to distract predators and keep them away from the nest. Chicks also defend themselves by spreading their wings and hissing at intruders.

Known Predators:

• crows and ravens (Corvus)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• American kestrels (Falco_sparverius)
• skunks (Mephitinae)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• coyotes (Canis_latrans)
• foxes (Vulpes)
• domestic dogs (Canis_lupus_familiaris)
• domestic cats (Felis_silvestris)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Common nighthawks help to control populations of the insects that they prey on. They also compete with bats and lesser nighthawks Chordeiles acutipennis for food.

Crows and ravens, owls, American kestrels, skunks, snakes, housecats and canids such as coyotes, foxes, and domestic dogs are predators of common nighthawks.

Females and young rely on their cryptic brown coloration to avoid detection of the nest site by predators. Males are not known to guard the nest but will defend it by diving over it and booming with their wings or beating the wings and hissing. Females may feign injury to distract predators from the nest. Chicks also spread their wings and hiss at intruders when threatened.

Known Predators:

• crows and ravens (Corvus)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• American kestrels (Falco sparverius)
• skunks (Mephitinae)
• snakes (Serpentes)
• coyotes (Canis latrans)
• foxes (Vulpes)
• domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Chordeiles minor is prey of:
Strigiformes
Serpentes
Corvus
Falco sparverius
Corvus corax
Felis silvestris
Canis latrans
Vulpes vulpes
Vulpes velox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Pseudalopex
Mephitinae
Canis lupus familiaris

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Chordeiles minor preys on:
Insecta

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: > 300

Comments: This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).

>1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but likely exceeds 1,000,000. Rich et al. (2004) estimated population size at 11,000,000.

Interspecifically territorial toward the Antillean nighthawk in the Florida Keys (Ehrlich et al. 1992).

Common nighthawks use calls and displays to communicate with one another. The vocalizations of common nighthawks are very simple, and have few variations. They also use non-vocal sounds, such as the booming sound made by the primary feathers of males during a courtship display to communicate. An example of the physical displays used by common nighthawks is the diving display given by males to prospective mates.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Common nighthawks use calls and displays to communicate with one another. The vocalizations of common nighthawks are very simple, and have few variations. They also use non-vocal sounds, such as the booming sound made by the primary feathers of males during a courtship display to communicate. An example of the physical displays used by common nighthawks is the diving display given by males to prospective mates.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

Comments: Most active during the early morning and evening and at night, but may also be seen during the day.

Common nighthawks are expected to live at least 4 to 5 years. The oldest known wild common nighthawk was 9 years old.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 9 (high) years.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 4 to 5 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4 to 5 years.

Common nighthawks are expected to live at least 4 to 5 years. The oldest known wild common nighthawk was 9 years old.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 9 (high) years.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 4 to 5 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 4 to 5 years.

Maximum longevity: 9 years (wild)

There is little information available about the mating system of common nighthawks. Males court females by displaying on the ground and in flight. They begin by flying 5 to 30 meters into the air and then diving steeply toward the ground, pulling up sharply about 2 meters above the ground. This display is accompanied by a “booming” noise made by the air rushing through the primary feathers of the male. Males then land near the female, spreading and shaking their tail from side to side, displaying their white throat patch, and making a croaking noise.

Mating System: monogamous

Southern populations of common nighthawks may produce chicks as early as May, while northern populations may not produce young until August. Little is known about how breeding pairs form, or about their breeding activities. Female common nighthawks arrive first at the breeding grounds and choose the nest site. Some of return to the same nest sites every year. Common nighthawks probably breed once per year. We do not know how old they are when they first breed.

Females usually lay 2 eggs, 1 to 2 days apart. The eggs are pale, splotched with gray, brown, and black. The female incubates the eggs for 18 to 20 days, leaving the nest in early evening to feed. After the eggs hatch, the female continues to leave the nest to forage in the evening. She feeds regurgitated insects to the chicks before sunrise in the morning and after sunset in the evening. The nestlings are semiprecocial and can move themselves if called by the female when they are just a day old. The young can move themselves to shade or sun to regulate their body temperature. After 16 days, young can hop. At 18 days old, they make their first flight, and can fly well at about 25-30 days old. By the time they are 30 days old, chicks have left the nest for good. They are fully grown 45-50 days after hatching, and probably join migrating flocks at that time.

In southern parts of the breeding range, breeding pairs may have a second brood. If this happens, the male feeds the young of the first clutch while the female incubates the second clutch. He will also feed the female.

Breeding season: spring and summer

Range eggs per season: 1 to 2.

Average eggs per season: 2.

Average time to hatching: 18-20 days.

Average fledging age: 18 days.

Average time to independence: 30 days.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average time to hatching: 19 days.

Average eggs per season: 2.

The female of a breeding pair incubates the eggs and broods the young chicks. She may also move them around to put them into nearby shade. The parents feed the chicks regurgitated insects until they are able to feed themselves at age 25 days or so. The male defends the nest site by beating his wings and hissing at intruders. The female may also defend the nest site by hissing or pretending to be injured.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

There is little information available about the mating system of common nighthawks. Males court females by displaying on the ground and in flight. They begin by flying 5 to 30 meters into the air and then diving steeply toward the ground, pulling up sharply about 2 meters above the ground. This display is accompanied by a “booming” noise made by the air rushing through the primary feathers of the male. Males then land near the female, spreading and shaking their tail from side to side, displaying their white throat patch, and making a croaking noise.

Mating System: monogamous

Common nighthawk breeding phenology varies throughout their range, with more southerly populations producing young as early as May and northerly populations as late as August. Little is known about pair formation or breeding activity. Female common nighthawks have been shown to arrive first at their breeding grounds and select the nest site. Banded individuals have returned to the same nest sites over multiple years. The age at first breeding is unknown for this species. Common nighthawks are assumed to breed once per year.

Females typically lay 2 eggs, 1 to 2 days apart. The eggs are pale, splotched with gray, brown, and black. The female incubates the eggs, leaving the nest in early evening to feed. Incubation periods vary throughout the breeding range between 18-20 days. After the young hatch, the female continues to leave the nest site to forage in the evening. She feeds regurgitated insects to the young before sunrise in the morning and after sunset in the evening. Nestlings are semiprecocial and able to move in response to the female’s calls within a day of hatching. The young can move to shade or sun to regulate their body temperature. After 16 days, young can hop. At 18 days they make their first flight, and can fly well at about 25-30 days old. By the time they are 30 days old, chicks have left the nest for good. Full development is achieved at 45-50 days, after which young may join migrating flocks. In southern parts of the breeding range, pairs may have a second brood. In this case, the male takes over feeding the young of the first clutch while the female incubates the second clutch. He will also feed the female.

Breeding season: spring and summer

Range eggs per season: 1 to 2.

Average eggs per season: 2.

Average time to hatching: 18-20 days.

Average fledging age: 18 days.

Average time to independence: 30 days.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average time to hatching: 19 days.

Average eggs per season: 2.

The female of a breeding pair incubates the eggs and broods the young chicks. Though the young are able to move themselves only one day after hatching, the female may move them around to take advantage of nearby shade. The parents feed the chicks regurgitated insects until they are able to feed themselves at age 25 days or so. The male defends the nest site by wing-beating and hissing at intruders. The female may also defend the nest site by feigning injury or hissing at an intruder.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

Clutch size 2. Incubation by female, about 19 days. Nestlings semi-precocial, tended by both parents, independent in about 30 days (Harrison 1978).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 4 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

Populations of common nighthawks are declining. This is probably the result of many different human activities. Pesticides used in cities and on farms poison common nighthawks. The gravel roofs that many common nighthawks nest on are being replaced by rubber roofs. Common nighthawks that nest in cities are also in danger of predation by Felis silvestris and other species. Common nighthawks are sometimes killed by vehicles when roosting or feeding along roadways.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

History

• 2008
  Least Concern
• 2004
  Least Concern

Populations of common nighthawks are declining. This decrease may be attributed to a variety of human activities. Indiscriminate pesticide use in cities and farmlands affects populations locally. In urban areas, replacement of gravel roofs with rubber roofs has reduced nesting sites for these populations. Increased predation is also a factor in general population decline. Urban nesters are especially vulnerable to predation by housecats. Common nighthawks are also killed by vehicles when roosting or feeding along roadways.

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4B - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Large breeding range mainly in North America; presumed large population size; many subpopulations; BBS data suggest long-term slow decline, possibly resulting from habitat loss, pesticide use, or increased predation on nests.

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable to decline of 30%

Comments: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data indicate a significant survey-wide decline of 2.7 percent per year for 1980-2007; this amounts to a 24 percent decline per 10 years, but the decline has been less than this over the most recent 10 years. Generation time is uncertain, but three generations probably is between 10 and 20 years. Using BBS data, the decline over the last 15 years is roughly 23 percent. However, this species is difficult to monitor, and the extent to which BBS data reflect actual population trends is uncertain.

Global Long Term Trend: Unknown

Comments: Long-term trend over past 200 years is unknown. Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data indicate a significant survey-wide decline of 1.7 percent per year for 1966-2007; this amounts to a 50 percent decline in abundance during the time period. BBS abundance declined from an average of around 2.5 birds per route in the 1960s to an average of around 1.4-1.5 birds per route in 2000-2007, so the decline is only about 1 bird per route..

Degree of Threat: Medium

Comments: Cause of the apparent decline is unknown but presumably is related loss of breeding habitat, indiscriminate use of pesticides, and increased predation on nests (by cats, dogs, and increased populations of native predators that benefit from anthropogenic food resources) (Ehrlich et al. 1992, Poulin et al. 1996)

Global Protection: Very many (>40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Many occurrences are in protected areas.

Common nighthawks have no known negative impact on humans.

Since common nighthawks are insect eaters that frequent farm fields and cities, it is likely that they help control pest insect species.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

Common nighthawks have no known negative impact on humans.

Since common nighthawks are insect eaters that frequent farm fields and cities, it is likely that they help control pest insect species.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population