Common Nighthawk

Photo Submission

Submitted By

Paul Thompson & Marilyn Drucker

Washington Crossing, PA, United States

Description

The Common Nighthawk may be common in the sky but on the ground I had never seen one before. It was a lifer! I heard a lot of commotion in my back yard that sounded like mobbing behavior, so I was expecting to find a hawk being harassed by the Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and Nuthatch. When I focused my camera, I didn’t know what I was looking at. Was it a bird sleeping at 4:00 PM in the afternoon? Eventually the “mob” was successful in making it fly away… or maybe it was just time for the nighthawk to soar in the sky at dusk. Later, I had to look up the mystery bird I had photographed to identify it.

Species

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2 replies on “Common Nighthawk”

Ellen Lewis says:

February 20, 2016 at 4:55 am

This really was a surprise bird for you, Paul! You’re lucky to have seen this Common Nighthawk in broad daylight, and I am envious because I have never seen this bird! Very nice.

Donna Barski says:

February 20, 2016 at 9:36 pm

Fabulous, Paul!

A friend recently told me how she loved to see the night hawks when she lived in the city. I live in the woods in rural New York and have never seen this bird. I envied her and now I envy you. I can see that this was truly an unexpected treat for you to find this bird resting. Good for you to take the time to investigate that commotion you heard. I would have thought, like you did, “Oh, a crow or owl must be getting harassed. by the little birds.” I hope I would have investigated like you did!

Such a uniquely shaped bird – the night hawk.