Perch Supply
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor. Flying insects scooped from the air at dusk.

Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
Scientific name
Chordeiles minor
Length
8.7–9.4 in
Weight
2.3–3.5 oz
Nest
No nest — eggs laid on bare gravel, rock or a flat roof
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
1–2 eggs
Incubation
16–20 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Cryptic grey-brown with long pointed wings
  • White wing bar visible in flight
  • Tiny bill and huge gape

Voice

A nasal 'peent' overhead; a booming wing-whoosh in display dives.

Diet and feeding

Flying insects scooped from the air at dusk.

What do common nighthawks eat? · Best feeder for common nighthawks

Common Nighthawks by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlaskaSummer breederJune–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArizonaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
CaliforniaSummer breederApril–July
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaSummer breederApril–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
NevadaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New MexicoSummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederJune–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
OregonSummer breederMay–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederJune–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederApril–July
UtahSummer breederMay–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WashingtonSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July
WyomingSummer breederJune–July
YukonSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do common nighthawks eat?

Flying insects scooped from the air at dusk. At feeders: none — leave gravel roof or bare ground for nesting.

How big is a Common Nighthawk?

8.7–9.4 in long and 2.3–3.5 oz.

Do common nighthawks use birdhouses?

No. No nest — eggs laid on bare gravel, rock or a flat roof.

Sources

  1. Common Nighthawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Common Nighthawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Common Nighthawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

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.