NIGHTHAWK. 



420. Chordeiles virginianus. 10 'inches. 



Male with white throat and white band in tail; 

 female with rusty throat and no white in tail. Notice 

 that the Nighthawk has a forked tail and white band 

 across the wings, thus being readily distinguished at 

 a distance, from the Whip-poor-will. As night ap- 

 proaches the nasal peent of the Nighthawks can be 

 heard in all directions as they fly about with wide 

 open mouth, scooping in tiny insects. 



Note. A loud nasal peent. 



Nest. None, the two mottled gray and white eggs 

 being laid on the bare rocks in pastures, in the open 

 or under brush, or on gravel roofs in cities; size 

 1.20 x .85. 



Range. U. S. east of the Plains, breeding from 

 Florida to Labrador; winters south of U. S. Three 

 sub-species occur: 420a. Western Nighthawk (hen- 

 ryi), west of the Plains; 420b. Florida Nighthawk 

 (chapmani) ; 420c. Sennett Nighthawk (sennetti), a 

 pale race found on the Plains north to Saskatchewan. 



