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Written by an evolutionary biologist/ornithologist who writes about E3 -- Evolution, Ecology and Ethology -- and the subtle relationships between these phenomena, especially in birds.
GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist and ornithologist who loves to write about "E3": evolution, ethology and ecology and the subtle relationships between these fields, especially in birds.
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« Science NEWS Interviews Spokesman from Intelligent Alien Intervention Institute | Main | Mystery Bird: Western Willet, Tringa semipalmata »
Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Photography • Teaching • Travel
Posted on: October 7, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Common Nighthawk, also commonly known as the Bullbat, Chordeiles minor, photographed at Smith Point Hawk Watch, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 23 August 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/1000s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Life Science
Education
Comments
Your teaser text says you have a soft spot in your heat(sic) for these birds; Do you tend to set fire to other species?
Posted by: Anon | October 7, 2009 10:20 AM
no .. typos are something i specialize in, especially when i am working on these things at 3am.
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | October 7, 2009 10:42 AM
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - white throat, banded breast, and wings covering the tail well when folded?
Posted by: Moderately Unbalanced Squid | October 7, 2009 10:56 AM
Arrg.. That thar is a goat sucker if I ever saw one!!!
Posted by: Greg Laden | October 7, 2009 11:28 AM
Agreed on common nighthawk. Besides the things that Moderately Unbalanced Squid noted, I notice that the Sibley illustrations call out "pale bar diagonal and hidden beneath terials" on common, while lesser would have "small buffy spots on primaries" and "pale bar on primaries nearly straight across and beyond tips of tertials". I don't see either of those last two things on this bird.
Going by the bright white throat patch, I'd think this is a male.
I love goatsuckers. I've only seen one at rest like this a couple of times, and it was very exciting. Cool shot!
Posted by: John Callender | October 7, 2009 11:46 AM
Nice shot. I've never seen one sitting.
Posted by: Russell | October 7, 2009 12:29 PM
I feel so unnecessary!
Actually, I wanted to point out the obvious white bars on the tail, especially the last one just before the wings cover the tail. Those also indicate a male.
Posted by: psweet | October 7, 2009 6:11 PM
A little bunch of these gape-mouthed, sleepy-eyed Common Nighthawks were just now swooping by the house, they'll sometimes sit on the deck or a rooftop during the afternoon summoning up the energy to catch bugs at dusk. The white bar at the base of the primaries was a key identifier for me.
Posted by: Ruthie Stearns | October 7, 2009 9:27 PM