Nighthawks and Chuck-Will's-Widows are common birds in South Florida, but most people have never seen one.  They are members of the Nightjar family and are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) birds in the family Caprimulgidae.  Nightjars are found worldwide, except Antarctica and certain island groups such as the Seychelles. Nightjars are primarily found in Europe, while Nighthawks and Chuck-Will's-Widows are found more in the New World.  Nightjars, Nighthawks and Chuck-Will's-Widows belong to a family of birds with the folk name "goatsuckers." The family name, Caprimulgidae, literally means "milker of goats" and is based on an ancient belief that the birds milked goats with their enormous mouths each night.  In reality, the birds' attraction to livestock was likely due to the presence of insects. 

They are unique birds with a distinctive look characterized by long wings, small feet, short legs, and very short bills.  They have short bills but have enormous mouths when opened to allow them to catch insects at night. They have bristles around their beaks called rictal bristles, which are stiff hair-like feathers that arise around the base of the beak. The function of rictal bristles is uncertain, although several possibilities have been proposed. They may function as a "net," helping to capture flying prey.  Some evidence suggests that they may prevent particles from striking the eyes. There is also evidence that the rictal bristles of some species may function tactilely, like that of mammalian whiskers, to help detect prey.

Nighthawks and Chuck-Will's-Widows can be found in various habitats, most commonly in open areas with some vegetation. Locally, they live in and around upland preserves. Nighthawks usually spend their days hidden, sometimes in plain view, thanks to their cryptic gray, brown, and blackish plumage and the birds' squat, "neckless" shape. They often prove challenging to spot even while roosting quietly on a tree branch or fence post.

 They usually lay their eggs directly on the ground rather than in a nest.  They are incredibly good at camouflage, and their coloring allows them to blend in remarkably well with the leaves and trees around them.  Their soft plumage is colored to resemble bark or leaves, protecting them from their primary predators: foxes and raccoons. As a defense, they can hide in leaves on the ground, spread their wings and open their mouths to resemble cottonmouth snakes preparing to strike.  Some species perch face lengthwise along a branch rather than across it as birds usually do to hide during the day, blending seamlessly with tree bark.

The Common Nighthawk's erratic, acrobatic flight style gives the bird its folk name "bullbat." They fly alone or in groups in a looping pattern.  This dusky hunter jerks and weaves through the air on long, pointed wings, flashing distinctive white wing patches.

Chuck-Will's-Widows are the largest of the nightjars and are primarily nocturnal.  They have enormous mouths that, when open, can catch flying insects like beetles and moths but can even catch small birds or bats on occasion.  Their name is an onomatopoeia from its song.  As is often the case with nightjars, the Chuck-will's-widow was named due to its song, which to many sounds like a phrase composed of the words "chuck," "will's," and "widow": "Chuck-will's-WID-ow. Chuck-will's-WID-ow. Chuck-will's-WID-ow." The first syllable of the call is often hard for humans to hear. You can hear their distinctive call in the evening or pre-dawn hours.

As is the case with many nightjars worldwide, Nighthawk and Chuck-will's-widow numbers are declining. The factors driving these declines are elusive, but habitat destruction, declining insect populations, and pesticide contamination have all been suggested as potential culprits.

These fantastic but rarely seen birds are an integral part of the Florida ecosystem. Now that the evenings are cool, enjoy a walk by a preserve area in or around your neighborhood. Listen for the call of the "widow" or watch the looping nighthawks as they search for dinner