When do common nighthawks arrive in Manitoba?
The Common Nighthawk is a summer breeder in Manitoba — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Common Nighthawk timing in Manitoba
- Arrives
- Around May
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Present roughly
- May–August
In Manitoba, common nighthawks are present through the warm months, arriving around May and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Manitoba 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 Manitoba. 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 Manitoba 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 Manitoba
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Manitoba-native plants are known to attract common nighthawks:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do common nighthawks arrive in Manitoba?
common nighthawks typically arrive in Manitoba 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 Manitoba?
Most common nighthawks have left Manitoba by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do common nighthawks stay in Manitoba all year?
No — in Manitoba 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 Manitoba?
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 — Manitoba
- 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.