Bird Info: Nightjars

Common Nighthawk
(Courtesy of All About Birds)

In this blog post, I will explain everything about a lesser-known bird family commonly called the nightjars. Let me begin.

Nightjars are a diverse group of bird species that belong to the family Caprimulgidae. There are 97 species in this family, with all species having brownish-grey mottled plumage, long tails, and pointed wings. Nightjars are found on every continent except Antarctica, with the USA having six species of nightjars.

Identification

Nightjars are commonly seen at dusk or night, idly perching on tree branches or the ground. If you find one during the day, pat yourself on the back; its camouflaged plumage and ability to stand still make them nearly invisible to a normal viewer. For this reason, the most common way to identify nightjars is through their sound. They will most likely be perched parallel to a tree branch. Within the USA, there are six species of nightjars: the Lesser Nighthawk, Common Nighthawk, Common Pauraque, Common Poorwill, Chuck-will’s-widow, and the Eastern Whip-poor-will.

Plumage

As I stated before, nightjars are heavily camouflaged birds. At first glance, you might think it is extremely difficult to differentiate between species, and you’re absolutely right. Nightjars have very similar plumage. However, there are some differences between species. Let me begin:

The Common Nighthawk and Lesser Nighthawk each are shaped like a typical hawk and they both have white bars on their wings. The Eastern Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will’s-widow are very similar, being strictly nocturnal and without white bars on their wings. The Common Pauraque has white bars on its wings, a rounded tail, and a large body. The Common Poorwill lacks white bars on its wings and has a more greyish tone.

Range

Of the six species of nightjars found in the USA, only two species(Common Nighthawk & Eastern Whip-poor-will) are found in the Northeast. The Common Nighthawk can be found anywhere in the US, while the Eastern Whip-poor-will is found only in the Eastern half. The Common Pauraque is found exclusively in Southern Texas, the Common Poorwill is found in the Western half of the US, the Lesser Nighthawk is found on the Southwestern border, and the Chuck-will’s-widow is found in the Southeast. Nightjars tend to be found in open areas such as grasslands, while some prefer densely wooded forests; their main goal is to just stay hidden.

Diet & Family Life

Nightjars mainly consume insects and arachnids for their diet, but big-mouthed nightjars like the Chuck-will’s-widow swallow small songbirds such as sparrows whole. They go foraging for insects at night or evening, staying idle and resting during the day. Most nightjars are monogamous, having only one partner for their entire life. Breeding season starts in the spring or the summer, with the female laying two to four eggs on the ground, heavily camouflaged among forest litter. Nightjars are a lesser-known, but cool group of birds in the world. Start birdwatching during the evening; who knows, you might have a whole colony of nightjars near you.