When do common nighthawks arrive in Virginia?
The Common Nighthawk is a summer breeder in Virginia — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Common Nighthawk timing in Virginia
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Present roughly
- April–August
In Virginia, common nighthawks are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Virginia sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. 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 Virginia. 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 April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first common nighthawks into Virginia are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, 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 Virginia
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Virginia-native plants are known to attract common nighthawks:
Fall fruit.
High-fat red berries and caterpillar host.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do common nighthawks arrive in Virginia?
common nighthawks typically arrive in Virginia around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do common nighthawks leave Virginia?
Most common nighthawks have left Virginia by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do common nighthawks stay in Virginia all year?
No — in Virginia the Common Nighthawk is a summer breeder, present roughly April–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before common nighthawks arrive in Virginia?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — 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 — Virginia
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.