When do common nighthawks arrive in British Columbia?
The Common Nighthawk is a summer breeder in British Columbia — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Common Nighthawk timing in British Columbia
- Arrives
- Around May
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Present roughly
- May–August
In British Columbia, common nighthawks are present through the warm months, arriving around May and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: British Columbia sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when common nighthawks are expected in British Columbia. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before May is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early May — the first common nighthawks into British Columbia are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around June, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What common nighthawks eat while they're here
- Moths, beetles, flying ants and mosquitoes
Hunts around city lights at dusk; nests on flat gravel roofs and bare ground.
Full Common Nighthawk diet guide → · Best feeder for common nighthawks →
Native plants that hold common nighthawks in British Columbia
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These British Columbia-native plants are known to attract common nighthawks:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do common nighthawks arrive in British Columbia?
common nighthawks typically arrive in British Columbia around May, with nesting underway by June. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do common nighthawks leave British Columbia?
Most common nighthawks have left British Columbia by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do common nighthawks stay in British Columbia all year?
No — in British Columbia the Common Nighthawk is a summer breeder, present roughly May–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before common nighthawks arrive in British Columbia?
Have feeders up and clean by early May — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: moths, beetles, flying ants and mosquitoes.
Sources
- Common Nighthawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Nighthawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Nighthawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.