Jake

The Common Nighthaw//k //


 * Common Name: NightHawk
 * Scientific Name: Chordeiles minor
 * Niche: Nighthawks need bare gravelly areas or rooftops for nesting sites. ,The Common Nighthawk roosts during the day, perched on a tree limb or power line, or on a fence post, the ground, or a flat rooftop. The Common Nighthawk eats flying insects during the late hours of the night when it flies. The Common Nighthawk is 9 inches from tip of bill to the end of the tail, and it's wingspan is 21 inches, it's about the size of a Blue Jay. The male has a white throat patch and a white subterminal tail bar. The female has a buffy throat patch and no tail bar. The Common nighthawk will nest on bare surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, or bare rock. In urban areas they will commonly nest on the roofs of buildings. The females usually begin to arrive at their breeding grounds in small groups around late May and early June a few days before the Males. Two eggs are laid directly on the ground and no nest is constructed. Incubation is performed entirely by the female who will leave the eggs or young unattended during the early morning and evening to feed. Young hatch after 18-20 days and  are semi-precocial with sparse patches of fluffy down .