Nighthawks belong to a curious group of birds once called “goatsuckers,” after the old belief that they slipped into barns at night to drink milk from goats. What a strange idea. How in the world did something like that ever get started? Of course, it isn’t true, but the name stuck in folklore. Birds in this group include the chuck-will’s-widow, whip-poor-will, and common poorwill.
Chuck-will’s-widows can be heard throughout Oklahoma. At our place, though, we’ve only ever heard a common poorwill—and only once, on April 24, 2018. When I lived in North Carolina, whip-poor-wills called nightly, their songs drifting through the trees. I still miss that sound.
What Makes the Common Nighthawk Unique
Back to the common nighthawk, which isn’t a hawk at all. It gets its name because in flight it somewhat resembles a hawk—long, pointed wings and a sharp, direct glide. Yet the nighthawk is really closer kin to its goatsucker relatives than to raptors.
- Size: About 10 inches long, with a wingspan of 24 inches.
- Coloring: Mottled gray-brown, perfect camouflage against tree bark or gravel.
- Markings: Distinctive white bars across the wings, visible even in low light.
- Habitat: Found across North America in open areas—fields, meadows, ponds, clearings, and even cities.
- Behavior: Most active at dusk and dawn, roosting quietly during the day.
Instead of building a traditional nest, nighthawks lay their eggs directly on bare ground or gravel rooftops. Their camouflaged coloring makes them nearly invisible against these surfaces.
The nighthawk’s wide mouth and erratic, swooping flight earn it another folk name: “bullbat.” Its wide gape is perfectly adapted for catching insects in flight, and it spends twilight hours darting and diving for moths, beetles, and other night-flying prey.
A Memory of Nighthawks
When I was in graduate school—a lifetime ago—I spent the summer of 1966 at the University of Michigan Biological Station on Douglas Lake. On weekends, I would head to Mackinaw City and watch the nighthawks fly over the harbor, darting and gliding in the fading light. Those evenings remain vivid in my mind, stitched together with the sound of water, the coming of night, and the nighthawks’ sweeping arcs overhead. Life passes too quickly, but these birds tie us to moments we don’t forget.
Why the Common Nighthawk Matters
Beyond their beauty in flight, common nighthawks are important insect predators. Each bird consumes hundreds of flying insects in a single evening, making them allies to both farmers and townsfolk alike. Their presence also signals healthy ecosystems—places where insects thrive and twilight skies remain alive with movement.
Next time dusk falls and you catch sight of a slim bird with white wing bars darting overhead, pause to listen and watch. It may not be a hawk at all, but the common nighthawk, a master of the twilight hunt.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Common Nighthawk
Is the common nighthawk really a hawk?
No. Despite its name, the nighthawk is not a raptor but a member of the goatsucker family, related to whip-poor-wills and poorwills.
When can I see common nighthawks?
They are most active at dusk and dawn, swooping over open areas or city lights to catch flying insects.
Where do common nighthawks nest?
They nest directly on bare ground or gravel rooftops, relying on their camouflage to protect their eggs.
Why are they called “bullbats”?
The name comes from their erratic, bat-like flight combined with their size and sound, which reminded people of a bull’s bellow.
