Nighthawks

By the time that you read this months phenology, the spring bird migration will be drawing to a close. One of the later migrants that you will be seeing or hearing throughout the summer is the common nighthawk. These birds, which are a little smaller than a kestrel, are neither hawks nor nocturnal, although commonly seen around dusk. Nighthawks eat mostly insects, which they catch while flying. They lay their eggs directly on the ground or on a flat roof of a building. These birds are often heard before they are seen. Their call has been described as a sharp, electric peent. The males emit a low sounding booming noise when doing a display flight.

To listen to examples of Nighthawk calls, visit allaboutbirds.org.

Also, check out this YouTube video that has a lot of good information and sounds of the nighthawk.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
West River Parkway and 36th Street/44th Street, Minneapolis
Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
Virtual and in-person
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area