Common nighthawk: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the common nighthawk lives – recorded in 16 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Chordeiles minor
Group	Hummingbirds, swifts & nightjars
Status	Least concern (Wikidata, IUCN category label)
Found in	16 countries
Continents	North America, South America
Mass	79.3 g (adult weight)
Class	Bird
Order	Caprimulgiformes
Family	Caprimulgidae

Where does the common nighthawk live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the common nighthawk in 16 countries and territories across North America and South America. Wikidata gives its range as: Brazil, Louisiana, South America.

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

How big is a common nighthawk?

Wikidata records the following for the common nighthawk: mass 79.3 g (adult weight).

Is the common nighthawk endangered?

The common nighthawk’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Least concern” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.

What kind of animal is the common nighthawk?

The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a bird in the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Caprimulgidae, genus Chordeiles. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the common nighthawk

The common nighthawk or bullbat (Chordeiles minor) is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the Americas within the nightjar (Caprimulgidae) family, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark (gray, black and brown), displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird is difficult to spot with the naked eye during the day. This bird is most conspicuous when in its buoyant and erratic flight. The most remarkable feature of this aerial insectivore is its small beak that belies the massiveness of its mouth. Some claim appearance similarities to owls. With its horizontal stance and short legs, the common nighthawk does not travel frequently on the ground, instead preferring to perch horizontally, parallel to branches, on posts, on the ground or on a roof. The males of this species may roost together but the bird is primarily solitary. The common nighthawk shows variability in territory size.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Common nighthawk (revision 1371764559), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q943329 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).