The common nighthawk, a medium-sized bird found throughout North America, is known by several other names including bullbat, mosquito hawk, and goatsucker. These alternative names provide insight into the nighthawk’s physical features, habitat, and behaviors.
Bullbat
One of the most widely used alternate names for the common nighthawk is “bullbat.” This name refers to the bird’s loud, bull-like vocalizations. The common nighthawk makes a loud “peent” call while in flight during courtship displays or when defending its nesting territory. The “bat” portion of the name refers to the nighthawk’s nocturnal habits and darting flight patterns that resemble a bat more than a nimble songbird. Early American settlers named the nighthawk “bullbat” because of these characteristics.
Mosquito Hawk
Another alternate name for the common nighthawk is “mosquito hawk.” This name stems from the nighthawk’s diet which consists mainly of insects caught on the wing. With its large mouth and ability to deftly maneuver, the nighthawk is well-equipped to swoop through swarms of insects and skillfully capture them. While mosquitoes are not a primary food source, the nighthawk does feed on mosquitoes especially in the early evening when mosquitoes are most active. The name “mosquito hawk” refers to the nighthawk’s effectiveness at hunting insects.
Goatsucker
An older, more unusual name for the common nighthawk is “goatsucker.” This name comes from an ancient folk tale that nighthawks would drink milk directly from goats at night. In reality, nighthawks do not feed on milk or even land on goats. However, they were active at night when goats were asleep. The loud “peents” of territorial nighthawks led to the legend that they were feeding on sleeping goats. Scientific evidence disproved the myth, but the name “goatsucker” persists in some areas.
Range and Habitat
To understand the origin of its names, it helps to examine the common nighthawk’s range and habitat. The nighthawk can be found throughout most of North America during the spring and summer months. Its breeding range stretches from Canada through the United States and into Mexico. However, nighthawks migrate to South America for the winter. They are found in a variety of open habitats including grasslands, deserts, rocky canyons, fields, and open woodlands. Always near open areas, the nighthawk is attracted to gaps in forests and other predominantly open regions.
Physical Features
In addition to its vocalizations, the nighthawk has several physical features that contribute to its common names. It has pointed wings and a wing shape that gives it aerobatic abilities similar to a bat. This allows for the erratic flight patterns and insect chasing that elicited names like bullbat and mosquito hawk. Another key feature is the nighthawk’s large, open mouth. Well-suited for catching insects on the go, the oversized mouth makes it easy to identify a nighthawk.
Behavior
The behaviors of the common nighthawk also help explain its naming origins. As its name implies, the nighthawk is most active from dusk to dawn each night as it hunts insects. It is one of the last birds to retire at night and one of the first to leave its roost in the early morning. The nighthawk is not actually a hawk at all, but belongs to the nightjar family known for a bird’s wide gape and nighttime activity. True to its family, the nighthawk sleeps through most daylight hours.
Unique Vocalizations
The source of the “bull” portion of the bullbat name is the nighthawk’s loud, bellowing vocalization. The most common sound is a loud “peent” noise. This distinctive call is made by males during courtship flights and by both sexes to indicate alarm or defend a territory. The calls begin quietly, increase to a crescendo, and then taper off at the end. In addition to the recognizable “peent,” nighthawks also make a buzzing croak when disturbed.
Insect-Hunting Skills
A key reason for the mosquito hawk nickname is the nighthawk’s skill at hunting insects on the wing. With its wingspan of over 2 feet, the nighthawk has great aerial agility. It also has impressively accurate vision that allows it to spot tiny insects while cruising rapidly through the air. Its large mouth is well-suited for catching insects in mid-flight. The nighthawk does not actually eat that many mosquitoes, but it is highly effective at hunting moths, flies, beetles, ants, and other flying insects.
Nocturnal Lifestyle
The nighthawk is primarily crepuscular, meaning most active at dawn and dusk. However, it can often be seen flying throughout the night in search of insect swarms. Its nighttime habits lead to names associating it with bats, such as bullbat. The nighthawk roosts on the ground during the day, choosing an open, camouflaged site. At dusk, they leave their hidden roosts and take to the skies to feed.
Migration Patterns
The common nighthawk is a long-distance migrant. It breeds throughout northern areas of North America before migrating to South America for the winter. Some nighthawks have one of the longest migrations of any North American bird, traveling over 2,500 miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. They migrate during the night and rest during the day to replenish energy before setting off on the next leg of the journey.
Myth of Drinking Milk from Goats
The unusual name “goatsucker” came from a folktale that nighthawks would perch on goats and drink milk from their udders. Of course, this is scientifically impossible since the nighthawk does not have the biological ability to digest milk. The myth likely arose because nighthawks were active around goats at night and made loud, strange calls. Their wide-open mouths scooping up insects probably resembled a bird drinking milk to imaginative observers.
Nesting and Reproduction
During the breeding season, nighthawks are most vocal and active at dawn and dusk. The males make impressive aerial displays during courtship. Once paired, the nighthawk couple chooses an open, rocky area or bare patch of ground to lay their eggs. Unlike most birds, nighthawks do not build an enclosed nest. Instead, they lay their eggs directly on the bare ground. The eggs are well-camouflaged to avoid detection from predators.
Diet
As aerial insectivores, nighthawks feed almost exclusively on insects. They likely consume thousands of insects per day during the breeding season. Some key foods are flies, beetles, moths, mosquitoes, ants, crickets, and other flying insects. They drink and bathe on the wing by skimming over water sources. Their diet consists primarily of insects but can include occasional small bats or frogs.
Threats and Conservation
Over the last several decades, common nighthawk populations have declined significantly. The threats facing nighthawks include loss of habitat, insect population declines, increased predation, and collisions with vehicles and structures during migration. They are listed as Threatened in Canada mainly due to habitat loss. Conservation efforts for nighthawks focus on preserving open natural areas and reducing pesticide use.
Appearance
Common nighthawks have long, tapered wings and short legs. They are cryptically colored in browns, grays, and black. This provides camouflage when roosting on the ground during daylight. They also have distinctive white patches on the wings and tail which are visible during flight. Their most noticeable feature is an exceedingly wide mouth bordered by stiff bristles. Overall they are medium-sized, around 9 inches long with a wingspan over 2 feet.
Life Span
The average lifespan of a common nighthawk in the wild is not well known. However, the maximum recorded lifespan is over 16 years based on banding data. Most nighthawks likely live between 4-6 years on average. The main causes of mortality are predation, starvation during migration, and collisions with vehicles or towers. Lifespans are likely impacted by declining insect populations resulting in inadequate food resources.
Summary Table of Key Facts
Common Names | Scientific Name | Wingspan | Length | Habitat | Diet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bullbat | Chordeiles minor | 2+ ft | 9 in | Open areas near woods | Insects |
Conclusion
The common nighthawk is a fascinating nocturnal bird best known for its impressive aerial displays and loud vocalizations. While “nighthawk” is the most widely used name today, it has had many colorful names throughout history. Alternate monikers like bullbat, mosquito hawk, and goatsucker give insight into the nighthawk’s appearance, habitat preferences, and behaviors. Despite population declines, the unique nighthawk remains an iconic bird of summer evenings across North America.