Common Nighthawk
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This Common Nighthawk carving was hand-crafted from solid Basswood. A member of the Goatsucker family, the Common Nighthawk has long, pointed wings and a slightly forked tail. These night hunters have wide mouths to help them snare flying insects. The bold, white bar across the primaries is slightly farther from the wing tip than in the Lesser Nighthawk. Sub-species range from dark brown in eastern birds to more grayish in the northern Great Plains race, sennetti. Color variations are subtle in adults and distinct in juveniles. The throat is white in the male and buffy in the female; the under parts are whitish with bold, dusky bars. The female lacks the white tail band. The Juvenile shows less white on the throat. In courtship display, the male's wings make a hollow, booming sound. The nasal peent call distinguishes the Common Nighthawk from the Lesser and Antillean Nighthawks. Seen in woodlands, suburbs, and towns, the Common Nighthawk is more active in daylight than other goatsuckers. The species roosts on the ground, on branches, posts and roofs.
Reference
National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds of North America, Fifth Edition, Page 138
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