Frequent Nighthawk, male. Males have a white throat, white subterminal major bar on wings and a white band on the tail.
Frequent Nighthawk, feminine. Females have a buffy throat, smaller white major bar and no tail band.
Frequent Nighthawk, male
Frequent Nighthawk, feminine
Frequent Nighthawk, male
Frequent Nighthawk, male
Frequent Nighthawk migration is in full swing right here in New England. Final night time in NH we noticed 301 from our deck. Now we have gotten good flights earlier than, our earlier excessive rely has been 2,202 in a single night time. We stay on a dammed-up part of a river, the place the river flows north and nighthawks usually comply with river valleys on migration. We rely from our deck and are sometimes joined by our associates.
Frequent Nighthawk numbers have been declining within the Northeast so it was very thrilling so see so lots of them that night time.
That is peak Frequent Nighthawk migration time, so get out and look. The perfect time to see them is on the finish of the day from about 5 pm to darkish.
Listed here are some suggestions for seeing migrating Frequent Nighthawks:
1. Look through the later afternoon to early night hours, from about 4 pm to 7:30 pm.
2. Look north, as they often transfer from north to south.
3. Get snug, use a chair when you can, you may be in search of fairly some time. Tuck your elbows in, it’s much less tiring and steadier to carry binos that approach.
4. Nighthawks usually transfer alongside river corridors
5. Be aware if there may be an ant hatch. Nighthawks are drawn to, and eat, dispersing ants who stand up in clouds.
6. Examine the photographs above, to be taught nighthawk form. Usually you’ll solely see distant birds with lengthy pointed wings, flapping slightly slowly. When feeding, nighthawks fly erratically. When migrating, they transfer extra straight and will even stand up on a thermal generally.
