Goatsuckers Archives - Window to Wildlife - Photography by Jim Edlhuber

Common Nighthawk

Category: Goatsuckers

Size: 9.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 2.2 oz

Cool facts: These birds are typically seen diving in loop patterns in early mornings or evenings. They forage over open areas near woods and over wetlands for insects. This birds breeding grounds are from the entire US into northern Canada and they migrate to South America in the winter months.

I checked out the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha for birds this morning. I was surprised how quiet the morning was and walked a large part of the nature center property. The highlight was a Common Nighthawk resting in a good size partially dead ash tree. It never moved and hardly opened its eyes while I was there for just a minute. It was a first for me not seeing this species in flight. Just common yard birds were only other birds around. This image taken today is typical of what they do. They rest during the day in a branched tree or on a fence post and they are hard to see as their colors make them blend in. Image taken on September 7, 2015.