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Range (Eastern North America breeds) (VII)

Eastern North America; breeds from the Gulf States to Labrador; winters in South America. Washington, not common S. R.; abundant T. V., Apl. 20 to Oct. Sing Sing, common S. R., May 9 to Oct. 11. Cambridge, not uncommon S. R., May 15 to Sept. 25.

Eggs, two, laid on the bare ground or a flat rock in open fields, rarely on the roof of a house, dull white, evenly marked with small, irregularly shaped blotches or fine specklings of grayish brown or brownish gray, 1.20 x 86. In wooded regions the Nighthawk passes the day perched lengthwise on a limb, but on the plains he roosts upon the ground, where his colors harmonize with his surroundings.

Soon after sunset he mounts high in the air to course for insects. Batlike he flies erratically about, and at more or less regular intervals utters a loud nasal peent, this call being followed by two or three unusually quick, flitting wing-beats. Long after the light has faded from the western horizon we may hear this voice from the starlit heavens, for the Nighthawk is one of our few truly nocturnal birds. Occasionally the peents are given more rapidly, and after calling several times in close succession the bird on half-closed wings dives earthward with such speed that one fears for his safety; but just SWIFTS. before the ground is reached he checks his rapid descent by an abrupt turn, and on leisurely wing again mounts upward to repeat this game of sky-coasting. At the moment the turn is made one may hear a rushing, booming sound, which, as writers have remarked, can be imitated in tone by blowing across the bung-hole of any empty barrel. It is made by the passage of the air through the bird's primaries. In late summer Nighthawks gather in large flocks and begin their southward migrations. When flying the white mark on their primaries is a conspicuous character, and has the appearance of being a hole in the bird's wing. 420b. C. v. chapmani (Coues). FLORIDA NIGHTHAWK; BULL-BAT. -Similar to the preceding, but smaller, and with the white and cream-buff markings of the upper parts more numerous. L., 8.60; W., 7.10; T., 4.10.