The Common Nighthawk has nine subspecies that vary in size, coloration, barring on the underparts and extent of white on both wings and tail, especially in males.Ĭ.m. The white tail band is absent, whereas all primaries and secondaries are finely tipped white. The immature resembles adult but it has more heavily barred underparts, the throat patch is paler and spotted. She has less distinct and thinner white bands on the wings, and she lacks the white on the tail. The female has buffish throat patch and buffier underparts than male. The supercilium is greyish-white and the throat patch is white. The crown is dark brown with buff to tawny spotting. On the undertail, the rectrices show a white subterminal band except on the central pair. On the underwing, the male has the five outermost primaries crossed by a broad, white band. The underparts are brown with pale grey barring, whereas belly and flanks are mostly greyish-white, washed buff and barred brown. At rest, the long, slender and pointed wings extend beyond the tip of the tail. The scapulars are brown and spotted buff. There is often some white on the lower marginal coverts. The other wing-coverts are brown, also with paler spots and speckles. On the upperwings, the lesser coverts are dark brown and slightly spotted like the upperparts. The nape is spotted buff, but there is no nuchal collar. The Common Nighthawk adult male has very cryptic plumage with brown to blackish brown upperparts showing greyish-white, buff and cinnamon spots and speckles. However, the population is declining in many parts of North America. The Common Nighthawk is described as common and widespread throughout the breeding range. Both parents share most of nesting duties. They usually are solitary nesters, although they may sometimes breed in loose groups. The pair forms following spectacular aerial displays. This species feeds on various flying insects caught in flight. It frequents forests, deserts, savannahs, beach and desert scrub, prairies, and even cities, from sea-level to 2,600 metres of elevation. The Common Nighthawk occurs in North and Central America where it breeds, but it winters in South America. These species lack the rictal bristles typical of the subfamily Caprimulginae. It is a member of the subfamily Chordeilinae, limited to the New World. The Common Nighthawk is a medium-sized bird with very cryptic plumage, as usual in nighthawks. What Bird-The ultimate Bird Guide (Mitchell Waite)Ĭaprimulgiformes Order – Caprimulgidae Family Neotropical Birds – Cornell Lab of Ornithology NIGHTJARS - A Guide to Nightjars and Related Nightbirds – Nigel Cleere and Dave Nurney - Yale University Press - First Edition (August 11, 1998) - ISBN 10: 0300074573 / ISBN 13: 9780300074574Īnimal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)Īll About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 5 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliott-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334253 My Bird Gallery & Flickr gallery 1 & Flickr gallery 2
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |