Bird of the Month | April 2026
Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor
Common Nighthawk. Photo by Phil Chaon/Audubon Photography Awards
Homeward Bound
Common Nighthawks will be returning to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge this month, where they will spend the breeding season! They are easily identifiable, with wide, gaping mouths they use to hunt insects. Look for them near dusk or dawn when they are most active!
To find a mate, males will do a courtship display in flight, where he will circle high while calling repeatedly, then go into a steep dive. The air passing through his feathers toward the bottom of the dive will make a “booming” sound!
After courtship, they don’t actually build nests, but will lay their eggs on a flat surface. Usually this is in a sandy place on the open ground or bare soil, but sometimes on top of a stump.
