In the summer dusk of Texas, look up in the sky and you may see a bird with long, narrow wings sweeping across the sky, From a distance, its distinct feature is the white bar on each pointed wing which it flutters once in a while as it makes a nasal, descending ‘BEEERZZ’ call.
This is the Common Nighthawk, a small insect-eating bird that many think is a raptor.
During the day this bird sits on a fence post, telephone pole, or even on the grass in your front yard. And it won’t move unless something comes right up to it. Its body shape does look something like a raptor but that is where the similarity ends.
Compared to a bird of prey, nighthawks have very small beaks but a large mouth. Get close and it will open its gaping mouth as wide as its head! Perfect for catching insects on the wing. And its feet are tiny and almost useless unlike the sharp, powerful talons of raptors.
So if you see a bird sitting on the ground all day long that looks like a raptor, it may not be injured and is probably not a raptor. It is the Common Nighthawk just being itself. |
Join us for First Saturdays at Brockdale Park. BPRC is continuing its on-site programming the first Saturday of each month. Bring a picnic lunch and relax by Lavon Lake while enjoying wonderful activities presented by our staff and volunteers.
