Common Nighthawk

(Chordeiles minor)

Status: Special Concern- Provincial (ESA 2009, COSEWIC 2018), Threatened- Federal (SARA, 2010)

Table of Contents:

Species Identification
Diet
Habitat and Range
Biology and Behaviour
Similar Species
Threats/Reasons for Being Endangered
Conservation and Recovery Strategies
How You Can Help

Species Identification:

The Common Nighthawk is a slender medium-sized bird of about 70-98 grams, with mottled grey and brown plumage. Their wings are pointed with a white bar near the tip. The male has white patches on his throat and across the tail. Both sexes make a nasally “peent” or “beer” call. During breeding season, the male nighthawk makes a loud booming noise with his wings, which is caused by air passing through his primary feathers.

Diet:

The Common Nighthawk feeds almost exclusively on flying insects, and may occasionally consume small amounts of vegetation. Their main prey includes beetles, caddisflies, and moths. They also feed on mosquitoes, wasps, black flies, midges, crickets, grasshoppers, and flying ants. They will feed from as high as 175m, while descending in circles, usually at dawn and dusk.

Range map taken from Environment and Climate Change Canada 2016 https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/common-nighthawk-2018.html#toc9

Habitat and Range:

The Common Nighthawk breeds throughout most of North America. Their breeding grounds extend up into Canada with the exception of Nunavut and the far north, with Canada being an important breeding ground for about 10% of the total population. Most sightings within Ontario have been on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, the Niagara area, and a few locations on the northwest edge of Thunder Bay. The rocky outcrops and scattered forests of the Land Between remain an important breeding area for nighthawks.

The Common Nighthawk overwinters in South America. Though there is little information on specific overwintering ground, they are thought to concentrate in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.

They will nest in almost any setting that has shade and a decent amount of camouflage.

Common Nighthawks will roost on a range of substrates including branches, lampposts, roofs, or even the ground. They will breed in a wide range of open landscapes including sandy areas, forest clearings, some cultivated areas, grasslands, sage brush, rocky outcrops, and gravel rooftops. They also are found in areas near newly burned forests, open water, and streetlights (which are great at attracting insects).

Their current habitat includes both natural and urban spaces. The initial landscape changes made by settlers (like the creation of forest clearings and building of flat rooftops) were likely beneficial to nighthawk populations. The longer term practices from agricultural monocultures, the loss of gravel rooftops, and fire suppression have been harmful to populations.

Biology and Behaviour:

Common Nighthawks return to Ontario in late May or early June. They usually return to their same nesting grounds and produce a clutch of two eggs up until mid-August. Eggs are laid directly on the ground in a forest clearing, or on a gravel roof within urban areas. The female incubates the eggs for up to three weeks while the male feeds her. Nestlings reach maturity after 45-52 days, and are ready for the migration to South America by mid-September. Eggs may be preyed upon by crows, ravens and gulls, while adults may be preyed on by domestic cats, American Kestrels, and Peregrine Falcons.

Similar Species:

The Eastern Whip-poor-will and the American Kestrel look similar, but they both have a different call. The Common Nighthawk can also be distinguished by a white bar across its wings, and the loud booming sound it makes during breeding season. It is slightly larger than Whip-poor-wills and does not have long thin feathers around its bill. The Common Nighthawk also has a larger head than an American Kestrel, and a notched tail.

Threats/ Reasons for being at Risk:

1. Loss of insect populations: There are a range of contributing factors including a loss of insect-breeding habitat, use of pesticides, light pollution, and a mismatch in timing between nightjar breeding and insect breeding. This threat affects all insectivore species, not just the Common Nighthawk.

2. Suppression of natural wildfires: Longer intervals between natural fires have led to dense forests, and a lack of open spaces. This threat is connected to the succession or reforestation of previously cleared areas. Abandoned farmland and the removal of fire disturbances from the landscape has allowed woody shrubs to encroach on open areas. On the other hand, an increase in extreme wildfires due to climate change is also a threat if they get out of hand and destroy too much habitat.

3. Loss of breeding habitat: Breeding habitats have been in decline due to changes in roof construction (ie. trend away from gravel and towards tar and rubber), increased urbanization, and agricultural intensification.

4. Climate change: Like many other species, the Common Nighthawk is also affected by extreme weather, which is being exacerbated by climate change. This is especially a hazard during their migration periods.

Conservation and recovery strategies:

While the Common Nighthawk is protected under the Migratory Bird Act, not much is being done to protect this species. There has been a Recovery Strategy developed to address threats, identify critical habitat, and to fill in any knowledge gaps for the Common Nighthawk, but no action has been taken yet.

Common Nighthawk habitats are protected in Canadian National Parks, but since they have a broad range of habitats, not all of their geographic range is being protected or monitored. It is predicted that only 12% of the Common Nighthawk’s habitat is being protected at this time.

How can you help?

Steps taken to reduce collisions with vehicles and human-made structures would benefit nighthawks and a range of other bird species. Drivers should also be vigilant on gravel roads, as nighthawks have been known to roost here.
Farmers should follow best management practices on their properties, including limited pesticide use.
These birds are sensitive to disturbance, especially during breeding season. It is better to enjoy their calls from afar rather than attempt to find them.
If you see a Common Nighthawk nest on your property, be aware of where it is and leave it be as best you can.
Keep dogs on leash when walking through forests during breeding season to avoid any encounters.

Additional Resources:

Audobon page
Government of Ontario Common Nighthawk factsheet
Nature Canada page
COSEWIC 2018 Assessment and Status report

Sources:

COSEWIC. 2018. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xi + 50 pp.(http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=24F7211B-1)

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii + 49 pp

Haché, S., Solymos, P., Fontaine, T., Bayne, E., Cumming, S., Schmiegelow, F., and Stralberg, D. 2014. Analyses to support critical habitat identification for Canada Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Common Nighthawk: Final Report 1 and 2. Boreal Avian Modeling Project. https://zenodo.org/record/2433885#.XmEbFWhKg2x