Diet
What do common nighthawks eat?
Flying insects scooped from the air at dusk.
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
Spring and summer diet
- Moths, beetles, flying ants and mosquitoes
Fall and winter diet
- Migrates to South America
Best feeder foods
- None — leave gravel roof or bare ground for nesting
Hunts around city lights at dusk; nests on flat gravel roofs and bare ground.
Frequently asked
What do common nighthawks eat?
Flying insects scooped from the air at dusk.
What is the best food to feed common nighthawks?
None — leave gravel roof or bare ground for nesting.
What do common nighthawks eat in winter?
Migrates to South America.
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
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.