THE NIGHTHAWK. 341 



No. 148. 



NIGHTHAWK. 



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



Synonym. — Buli,-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. lycngth 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 unojifending. night-bird. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Baltimore Orioles, 

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



