Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Introduction

Similar in size to a Nightjar, but with larger white wing markings, the Common Nighthawk is a very rare visitor from North America

Within its native range, the Common Nighthawk is migratory, breeding in North America south of the tundra, and wintering across much of South America.

A good proportion of the British & Irish records come from the Isles of Scilly.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

80g

Seasonality

BTO Records

95 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Isles of Scilly, 1927

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Common Nighthawk

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Common Nighthawk movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Common Nighthawk, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Common Nighthawk

Classification and Codes

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Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Scientific name: Chordeiles minor
Authority: JR Forster, 1771

BTO 5-letter code: COMNI
Euring code number: 7860

Alternate species names

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Catalan: enganyapastors americà
Czech: lelek sokolí
Danish: Nathøg
Dutch: Amerikaanse Nachtzwaluw
Estonian: videvikusorr
Finnish: isohaukkakehrääjä
French: Engoulevent d’Amérique

German: Falkennachtschwalbe
Hungarian: estifecske
Icelandic: Húmfari
Italian: Succiacapre sparviere
Latvian: Amerikas lelis
Lithuanian: paprastasis sutemu lelys
Norwegian: Nordnatthauk

Polish: lelczyk maly
Portuguese: bacurau-norte-americano
Slovak: súmracník krahulcí
Slovenian: severnoameriški legen
Spanish: Añapero yanqui
Swedish: större falknattskärra
Welsh: Cudylldroellwr

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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