the mysterious lives of NIGHTHAWKS

These creatures of contradiction aren't hawks and aren't the most active at night, but they are worth knowing

- KENN AND KIMBERLY KAUFMAN

AS THE SUN NEARS THE WESTERN HORIZON, you hear a buzzy call, pzzeent!, from overhead.

Looking up, you see a bird about the size of a pigeon but with narrow, angular wings, sailing and fluttering in a bouncy, zigzag flight. Mostly brown, the bird is marked with a bold white slash across each pointed wingtip.

This is a common nighthawk, but its name is misleading. The bird is most active at dusk and dawn, not at night. It's not a hawk—instead, it's related to the whip-poor-will and other members of the nightjar family. And although it's the most widespread of the three nighthawk species in North America, it isn't always common. Read on to learn more about these fascinating fliers.

MIDFLIGHT MEALS

Seen up close, the nighthawk appears to have a tiny bill—until it opens up to reveal a wide, gaping mouth, perfect for scooping insects out of the air. That’s the purpose of the bird’s high, erratic flight, as it pursues moths, beetles and other bugs on the wing.