Nighthawks are one of those rare birds who actually benefited from the advance of European settlers since they began to use plowed fields and rooftops as nesting sights. They have adapted well to city life and are often seen and heard flying above towns in the evening, but can also be observed hunting in daylight hours over fields and woods as well. They are difficult to observe when nesting due to their protective coloration, however, the male's 'booming' aerial mating display is often seen.

These goatsuckers, which are in the same family as whip-poor-wills, are able to open their mouths widely in pursuit of insects. Their swift, maneuverable flight around street lights after nightfall has led to their nickname, Bulbats. Nighthawks are more or less common transients in western Carolina and Tennessee, especially in September, probably breeding in cities west of the park. The birds have been reported in Cades Cove within the park, and in both Bryson City, NC and Gatlinburg, TN. with large flocks spotted after unusual weather conditions.

Physical Characteristics:
Length: 9-10 in. / 22-25 cm

Physical characteristics : This bird is grey-brown in color with a white bar across the pointed wings. The male has a white bar across a notched tail and a white throat. Their eyes are large and dark and they have short bristles around their small bills.

Voice: The call is a nasal peent. The male creates a booming sound in his mating displays.

Breeding habitat:
The nighthawk prefers open areas, often laying its eggs on the ground or on flat rooftops.

Mating system:
Common Nighthawks are monogamous. The male is known for his "booming" courtship displays. The male swoops into a steep dive only pulling up a few meters from the ground. The sound is produced by the vibration of air in the wing feathers.

Nest:
Eggs are laid on soil or directly on roof.

Eggs:
The elliptical eggs are pale grey and heavily spotted with brown and grey. Usually 2 eggs are in a clutch.

Chick development:
The eggs are incubated about 19 days by the female before the birth of the downy chicks. The brood follows the mother to a shady area within a day of birth. Both adults feed the nestlings.The young begin to fly at about 23 days old. The fledglings remain in the care of the adults for at least a week longer.

Diet:
The nighthawk feeds on flying insects.

Conservation Biology:
Concern about the possible decline of this species has lead to the Jacks Mountain Hawkwatch to coordinate a volunteer fall migration watch, details at Project Nighthawk.

Breeding: Canada through Central America.

Winter: Eastern South America to Argentina, the Caribbean, and occasionally along the Gulf states.

In Park: Observations come from Cades Cove, Metcalf Bottoms, and Park Headquarters. Park Observations include several records of large migratory flocks in the park in early September, as recently as 1990.

References:

Alsop, F. J. 1991. Birds of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, Gatlinburg, TN.

Robbins, Chandler S.,Brunn, Bertel, and Zim, Herbert S. Birds of North America copyright 1983, Golden Press New York, Western Publishing Company, Inc. Racine, Wisconsin pp 182-183.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html.

Nicholson, Charles p., 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN pp 153-155

Peterson, Roger Tory, A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies 4th edition,1980, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston pp 184-185.

Robbins, Brunn, and Zim, 1983 Birds of North America Golden Press New York Western Publishing Company, Inc. Racine, Wisconsin pp 182-183

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press 243 pp.