Common Nighthawk
Common NighthawkCommon NighthawkCommon NighthawkCommon Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Tikal National Park
2 Verified sightings at Tikal National Park From 2019 to 2026
7,011 Verified sightings across all 82 parks From 2019 to 2026
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the Common Nighthawk

The common nighthawk or bullbat (Chordeiles minor) is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the Americas within the nightjar (Caprimulgidae) family, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark (gray, black and brown), displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird is difficult to spot with the naked eye during the day. This bird is most conspicuous when in its buoyant and erratic flight. The most remarkable feature of this aerial insectivore is its small beak that belies the massiveness of its mouth. Some claim appearance similarities to owls. With its horizontal stance and short legs, the common nighthawk does not travel frequently on the ground, instead preferring to perch horizontally, parallel to branches, on posts, on the ground or on a roof. The males of this species may roost together but the bird is primarily solitary. The common nighthawk shows variability in territory size.

This caprimulgid has a large, flattened head with large eyes; facially it lacks rictal bristles. The common nighthawk has long slender wings that at rest extend beyond a notched tail. There is noticeable barring on the sides and abdomen, also white wing-patches.

The common nighthawk measures 22 to 25 cm (8.7 to 9.8 in) long, displays a wing span of 51 to 61 cm (20 to 24 in) weighs 55 to 98 g (1.9 to 3.5 oz), and has a life span of 4 to 5 years. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Tikal National Park

Lesser Nighthawk
LC

Lesser Nighthawk

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Chordeiles acutipennis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Pauraque
LC Endemic

Common Pauraque

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Nyctidromus albicollis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Yucatán Poorwill
LC

Yucatán Poorwill

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Short-tailed Nighthawk
LC

Short-tailed Nighthawk

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
2 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
3 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
7 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
8 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
10 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
11 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
13 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
15 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
16 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
18 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
20 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
21 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
23 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
24 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
25 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
27 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
28 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
29 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
30 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
31 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
35 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
36 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
37 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
38 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
39 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
40 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
41 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
Insufficient data
45 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
46 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
47 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
48 Noel Kempff Mercado National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
49 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
50 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
51 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
52 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
53 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
54 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
55 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
56 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
57 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
58 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
59 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
60 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
61 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
62 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
63 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
64 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
65 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
66 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
67 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
68 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
69 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
70 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
71 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
72 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
73 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
74 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
75 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
76 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
77 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
78 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
79 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
80 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
81 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
82 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
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