Wyoming · Summer breeder

Common Nighthawks in Wyoming

When common nighthawks are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)Common NighthawkChordeiles minor

Status in Wyoming: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–5b

When to expect common nighthawks in Wyoming

Common Nighthawks are summer residents in Wyoming, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, common nighthawks typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

Common Nighthawks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, chokecherry, common hackberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Wyoming plants that attract common nighthawks

Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, these 8 provide food or cover common nighthawks use:

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding common nighthawks through the Wyoming year

Top foods: None — leave gravel roof or bare ground for nesting.
In Wyoming's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for common nighthawks · Best feeder for common nighthawks

Frequently asked

Are common nighthawks in Wyoming year-round?

No. Common Nighthawks are summer breeders in Wyoming and leave for the winter.

When do common nighthawks nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–2 eggs, incubated for 16–20 days.

What native plants attract common nighthawks in Wyoming?

Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for common nighthawks.

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.