Common Nighthawk

The distinctive white flashes on the wings of the common nighthawk

The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in British Columbia has been designated as yellow listed (not at risk). With its white wing patches and erratic flight pattern, it is little surprise that the bird is sometimes called a “bullbat.”

Map

Biodiversity Interactive Map - Common Nighthawk

Range

Distributed throughout Canada and British Columbia, common nighthawks occur throughout the Columbia Basin.

Habitat

• Nests in a wide range of open, vegetation-free upland and grassland habitats including recently harvested forests, burnt-over areas and rocky outcrops.
• Rivers and wetlands are favoured foraging locations

Reproduction

• Nests in bare scrapes on the ground
• Females lay an average of two eggs from May to July
• Nestlings are vulnerable to disturbance and predation as they remain in the nest for 18-25 days before fledging

Listing and Date

Threats to Species

• Decline of insect populations
• Habitat loss and modification including forest fire suppression

Select Reports

• Common Nighthawk Inventory in the Pend d’Oreille and Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area 
• Common Nighthawks in the Columbia Basin - A Summary of Sightings Submitted by the Public

For more information on this species, visit The Species at Risk Public Registry and/or, The BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer where you should enter “common nighthawk” in the Species Name field.