151 



periods of calling the bird hawks and wheels through the tree tops in 

 large interlacing circles, sometimes swooping towards the ground in a long 

 pendulum-like swing. In the daytime it seeks the ground in some quiet 

 patch of underbrush where it passes the time at rest. When disturbed 

 by an intruder it rises with a loose, poorly controlled flight that gives no 

 indication of its wonderful command of the air; at other times, flutters 

 a short distance over the tangle, and drops again to earth. 



The Whip-poor-will is often regarded as identical with the Nighthawk. 

 This is a not unnatural mistake when they are not seen side by side as 

 they are quite similar enough to be confused. 



Economic Status. The Whip-poor-will feeds largely upon night- 

 flying beetles , especially May beetles or June bugs. 



Genus Chordeiles. Nighthawks. 



420. Nighthawk. MOSQUITO HAWK. BULL-BAT. NIGHT-JAR. PR. L'ENGOULEVENT 

 D'AMERIQUE. LE MANGEUR DE MARINGOUINS. Chordeiles virginianus. L, 10. Plate XXI A. 



Distinctions. The Nighthawk and the Whip-poor-will are often mistaken for one 

 another. This species, however, can be distinguished from the Whip-poor-will by the 

 following characters: the throat is white instead of dark, there is no white collar below 

 the throat, and the long mouth-bristles are lacking. The tail is slightly forked instead 

 of round and has little or no white except a narrow subterminal bar. The underparts 

 are distinctly barred an d the wings have a white spot at the base of the primaries instead 

 of being all black. 



Field Marks. The Nighthawk flies about in daylight and in the early evening, whereas 

 the Whip-poor-will never hawks about in the open until evening. A white spot on the 

 wing shows in flight very plainly, resembling from a little distance a clear-cut shot-hole. 

 The sudden and perpendicular dive in the air with hollow booming accompaniment is 

 also distinctive of the species. 



Nesting. A clear spot on the ground usually the bald tops of flat rocks in the open. 

 Eggs laid directly on the ground with little or no preparation. Often utilizes the flat 

 gravel roofs of buildings. 



Distribution. North and South America, north to the tree limits, breeding in Canada 

 wherever found. 



SUBSPECIES. Several subspecies of Nighthawks are recognized in Canada, but 

 the only form occurring in the east is the Eastern Nighthawk, the type form. 



Though called Nighthawk this bird has no relation to the Raptores 

 in habit, structure, or outward appearance. Its large eyes directed slightly 

 forward sometimes cause it to be mistaken by casual observers for an Owl. 

 This species nests to some extent on the flat gravel roofs of buildings. 

 These graceful aeronauts may be seen over almost any city or town as 

 evening draws on, beating about on long, strong wings with slow, powerful, 

 but slightly erratically timed beats. At intervals one will mount in steep 

 spirals higher and higher, and then face earthwards and come nearly 

 perpendicularly down like a falling stone. As it falls a hollow dull tremolo 

 buzz is heard. Just before the observer thinks the bird must dash to 

 the ground it catches itself and glides off safely to repeat the operation. 

 Itb notes are not musical, though from the high upper air its hoarse squawk- 

 ing voice comes, down softened and harmonized by distance. 



Economic Status. Of few birds can more good or less harm be told 

 than of the Nighthawk. Its food is wholly of insects and it takes most 

 of it on the wing, high in the air where many of the insects are mating 

 and at a time when their destruction does the most good. It is a surpris- 

 ingly small bird when stripped of its thick coat of soft feathers, but requires 



