THE NIGHTHAWK. 341 



No. 148. 



NIGHTHAWK. 



A. O. U. No. 420. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel). 



Synonym. BULL-BAT. 



Description. Adult male: Mottled, black, gray and ochraceous, and with 

 white in patches; above black predominates, especially on forehead and back, 

 mottling falling into indistinct bars on upper tail-coverts and tail ; anterior edge 

 of wing white; the wing-quills dusky; a large, white, transverse patch about 

 midway on the first five primaries, save on the outer web of the first ; a large 

 V-shaped throat-patch white; remaining under parts distinctly and finely barred, 

 dusky and whitish with some faint ochraceous, the latter found especially on 

 the parts adjacent to the white throat-patch; the crissum sometimes pure white, 

 usually barred, at greater intervals than on breast; a white band crossing tail 

 near tip, except on central feathers. Bill without evident bristles, the horny part 

 very small, but length of gape about an inch. Tarsus very short; the middle 

 claw enlarged, and with a curious, horny, comb-like process on the inner edge. 

 Adult female : Similar, but without white band on tail, and with white spots 

 on primaries often much reduced ; throat-patch tinged with ochraceous, and suffu- 

 sion of under parts by this color more pronounced. Immature : More finely and 

 heavily mottled than adults, and with upper parts more heavily marked, or even 

 suffused with ochraceous-buff. Length 9.00-10.00 (228.6-254.) ; wing 4.85 

 (123.2) ; tail 4.32 (109.7) ; bill from nostril .21 (5.3). 



Recognition Marks. To appearance "Little Hawk" size really smaller; 

 central white spot in long wing distinctive. 



Eggs, 2, deposited on the bare ground, often among rocks, sometimes upon 

 a flat rock, or on the gravel roof of- a tall building ; grayish white, or dull olive- 

 buff marbled, mottled, or clouded and speckled with various shades of olive, 

 and brownish- or purplish-gray. Av. size, 1.18 x .86 (30. x 21.8). 



General Range. Northern and eastern North America west to the Great 

 Plains and central British Columbia, and from Labrador south through tropical 

 America to the Argentine Republic. 



Range in Ohio. Not very common summer resident. Abundant during 

 migrations, especially in August. Breeds sparingly throughout the state but is 

 subject to great local variation. 



CURIOSITY is certainly a large element in the make-up of most birds. 

 Scarcely had I set my foot outside my door this August morning, when I 

 caught sight of a young Nighthawk which had alighted for the day on a 

 prominent bare limb of an oak, at a height of not less than sixty feet. But 

 I was not the first discoverer. Half a dozen Bluebirds were hovering about 

 the stranger and talking excitedly. Red-headed Woodpeckers cackled and 

 scolded and exclaimed "Queer ! Queer !" diving viciously by way of emphasis, 

 at the unoffending night-bird. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Baltimore Orioles, 

 and Flickers joined the mob, wagging their heads and chattering as they 



