The Nature of Phenology 5/9/20: Nighthawks

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

Common nighthawks are part of the nightjar family, which includes whippoorwills. Birds in this family are all a bit strange-looking, with flat heads, stunted bills, short necks, big eyes, and feathery whiskers—a generally mousy appearance. These long distance migrants, which may have spent the winter somewhere between Mexico and Argentina, are one of our last migrating birds to return in the spring, so they are a clear reminder that summer is near.

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com.