Before I could decide my topic for the June 2023 column my answer came. Our neighbour, Beverly, texted me having seen a common nighthawk. These birds are members of the Nightjar family. Her family had been enjoying a lovely evening sitting outside.
This bird is not strictly nocturnal, most active at dawn and dust. Each May and June they can be seen flying 40 feet above treetops and houses. Gary and I have never seen a common nighthawk.
ID: Well camouflaged in gray, white, buff and black. The long, dark wings have a striking white blaze about two thirds of the way out to the tip. It has a large head, large eyes and a small weak beak. Feet and legs light gray. Barred belly.
Size: 22-25cm/10”, Jay-sized. Status: uncommon migrant and breeder from May to August. Found in all areas except Nunavut. Fairly common migrant. Habitat: Open and partially open habitats, including forest, prairies, bogs, rocky or sandy. Rests on ground, posts, rails and roofs. Nesting: on bare ground, rocks, logs having no nest. In cities they nest on gravelled rooftops on flat-topped buildings. Two eggs. Voice: loud, nasal peent.
Feeding: In flight: insects, which are attracted to lights, are caught mid-air. Not actually a hawk, but use their wide mouths to ‘hawk’ insects in the air. Their large eyes help them find insects. Analysis of stomach has shown over 500 mosquitoes and 2175 flying ants in one day being consumed. Most common place sighted is high in the air, flying with easy strokes and quicker erratic strokes.
In aerial display, male dives, then zooms sharply with a sudden deep whir of wings. Deliberate wing beats. Winters: South America. Conservation: Major threat is habitat loss and agricultural development.
Resources: Birds of Ontario, Nature Canada, Lorimer, Peterson, Alberta, Golden, Stokes Bird Guides.