Nighthawk WESTERN BIRDS 



nicus) is common in summer in California west of the 

 Sierra Nevada from about latitude 40° south to the 

 mountains of Lower California and occurs throughout 

 the winter in the foothill regions of southern California. 

 The birds are seven or eight inches long with dark black- 

 ish upper parts which are barred with finely mottled 

 grayish-brown and distinct black arrow-shaped mark- 

 ings; the middle of crown, sides of head and throat are 

 black, and a throat patch is bordered with black; tail 

 feathers, except middle ones, tipped with black with 

 buffy under-tail coverts; under parts barred. The bill 

 though rather short is wide so that the mouth is enor- 

 mous for size of bird. Stiff bristles at base of bill enable 

 the birds to better secure the insect food upon which 

 they live. They make no nest but lay their two pink- 

 tinted eggs upon the bare ground. The newly-hatched 

 young so blend with the lights and shadows of their 

 surroundings that they are well concealed. One might 

 easily mistake them for a fallen leaf. 



To most bird lovers the Poor-Will is unknown except 

 by name, but to one living near the wooded foothills 

 the plaintive unusual call, "Poor-will, poor-will," given 

 rapidly, is a familiar sound of the evening. This is one 

 of the birds that is worth while hunting but it is far 

 oftener heard than seen. 



GENUS CHORDEILES : PACIFIC 

 NIGHTHAWK. 



Pacific Nighthawk: Chordeiles virginianus hesperis 

 {Grinnell). 



FAMILY— NIGHTHAWKS, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, 

 ETC. 



NiGHTHAWKS, though belonging to the same family as 

 the Poor-Wills, are much more often seen than the latter. 



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