Duluth's Common Nighthawk Migration

By Cory Ritter

Let's get real, Common Nighthawks are pretty awesome. They have striking plumage, make sweet peent calls, eat insects that may otherwise annoy us, fly erratically, and their apparently small bills open up to reveal a mouth resembling that of a muppet. Plus, they're the ABA 2013 Bird of the Year. What's not to like?

Duluth is a great place to watch Common Nighthawks during migration, and this year didn't disappoint. Last Wednesday, the 21st, Karl Bardon counted over thirty thousand Common Nighthawks—with the help of Dave Carman and others. However, that was just the peak, and the nighthawk migration continues.

Common Nighthawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 22 August 2013

Common Nighthawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 22 August 2013

Common Nighthawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 27 August 2013

Common Nighthawk; Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory; St. Louis County, MN; 27 August 2013