This week's featured bird is less common than it once was, but despite declining numbers the common nighthawk can still be seen flitting around on summer evenings while it catches insects for dinner. Superbly camouflaged for daytime roosting with its mottled plumage, this bird is a treat to see whether on the wing or calmly resting as a literal bump on a log.I was fortunate to add a superb sighting of the common nighthawk to my life list just a few weeks ago when one spent the day roosting in one of my neighborhood trees, conveniently at eye level and just a few feet from the sidewalk. It's always a special treat to see a bird so closely, and even more so when it's an unusual one.
Have you seen a common nighthawk? Share your sightings in the comments!
Common Nighthawk
Photo © Melissa Mayntz
Comments
Nighthawks are quite common in Truckee, California in the Sierra Mountains north of Lake Tahoe. I see dozens of them on sunset walks on the bluffs of Glenshire, overlooking the Truckee River. It seems like there are fewer as the summer wears on, but I haven’t been walking as much either.
I won’t count the nighthawks we occasionally get into the center. The only time I’ve seen a nighthawk in a natural setting was during the trip I took to Malheur (southern Oregon). I went on a field trip with 60 high school teens. Whew! Talk about a wild trip. Anyway, while wandering one early evening I saw a nighthawk perched on a low branch, eyes closed, beak pointing up a bit. I think it truly believed I couldn’t see it. Funny bird.
yes ,at an apt. complex one morning at my front door just learning to fly,hitting wall to another .so remembering two days before this bird on elect. line sitting so i look to see what kind it was,i could not then it came right toward me in v shape it scared me so i waved it away.so seeing this young one flying v shape i then knew it was together,i capture it did not touch it ,went to library look up the nighthawk,so that night the parents returned an then i released the younger with them wonderful.
Several common nighthawks were seen roosting high in a large tree in Baker, NV (Great Basin National Park)8-2010.