Close encounters with a nighthawk

The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is just that: common. They occur over much of North America, but you usually only see them at dusk, hunting high in the air. At Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, we found this very cooperative nighthawk roosting on a fence post alongside a pasture. I’ve never seen one this close before – excellent find!

If you look closely, you can see the BIObus reflected in its eyes.

Jeff Webb