Nighthawk and Nightjar: Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, Common Poorwill - The Profiles

Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans - Sandra Kynes 2016

Nighthawk and Nightjar: Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, Common Poorwill
The Profiles

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Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor syn. Caprimulgus minor)

Creatures of the night are generally viewed with suspicion, and, like the owl, nightjars and nighthawks have been considered birds of ill omen. The nightjar’s silent flight gives it a ghostlike quality, and its sound has been described as spooky or otherworldly. Loudest at dusk, the nightjar has been so named because of its jarringly loud sound.

Not to be outdone when it comes to strange noises, the nighthawk’s flight pattern of swoops and sudden changes in direction creates a weird, some say UFO-like, buzzing sound. The bird uses this sound to get attention during mating season and at other times to startle predators. Its folk names include spinner bird and wheel bird because the buzzing sound has been likened to a spinning wheel. Despite its name, the nighthawk is not a hawk.

An earlier genus name for the nighthawk and nightjar comes from the Latin capra, meaning “nanny goat,” and mulgus, “to milk.” 98 To explain their unusually wide mouths, Aristotle wrote that these birds took milk from goats. In reality, their mouths allow them to catch large insects.

Another unusual characteristic of nighthawks and nightjars is their large eyes, which have a reflective layer. This allows them to see extremely well at night. It also gives their eyes an eerie glow, which adds to their otherworldly reputation. In addition, nightjars lay their eggs according to the cycle of the moon so they hatch about ten days before a full moon.

Magical Workings

These birds of the night help us see into the inner and outer darkness. Call on either of these birds for support in divination practices and understanding messages of prophecy. The liminal nighthawk can help us develop heightened awareness and guide us through the in-between times of the day or year.

By their natures, nightjar and nighthawk provide a boost to night magic and any form of nocturnal practice. Also call on them for spells to bring success. Both of these birds aid in accessing the fairy realm and can teach us the fine points of adaptability and camouflage.

Make Connection

To connect with nighthawk and nightjar energy, sit in a completely dark room. Pull your energy in close to you and visualize yourself blending in with your surroundings. In a soft whisper say: “Nighthawk, Nightjar, how I wonder where you are. Guide me through your world so dark, on this journey I now embark.” Listen carefully for any sounds and use your senses to feel what is around you. Although these birds are normally loud, contact in this manner is whisper-soft.

Associations

Nighthawk

Element(s): Air, earth

Goddesses: Athena, the Fates, Freya, Frigg, Minerva, the Norns

Magical beings: Elves, fairies

Nightjar

Element(s): Air, earth

Goddess: Lilith

God: Hypnos

Solar system: Moon

Moon phases: Full, waxing

Magical beings: Elves, fairies

Bird Identification

Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor syn. Caprimulgus minor)

Size: 8 to 9 inches

Wingspan: 21 to 22 inches

Comparative size: Robin

Description: A short neck gives the appearance of a large head; long, pointed wings with broad white wing bar; long, notched, or square-tipped tail; mottled brownish-black over all

Male: White throat patch; white tail bar

Female: Buffy throat patch; no tail bar

Range: From central Canada to Nova Scotia and throughout most of the United States into Mexico and South America

Habitat: Open woodlands, clearings, fields, suburbs, and urban areas

Eggs: Creamy white to pale olive-gray with gray, brown, and black speckles

Nightjars

Eastern Whip-Poor-Will (Antrostomus vociferus syn. Caprimulgus vociferus)

Size: 8 to 10 inches

Wingspan: 17½ to 19 inches

Comparative size: Robin

Description: Large, round head; large eyes; wide mouth with short bill and forward-facing whiskers (bristle feathers); stout chest; body tapers to long tail and wings; small feet and short legs; gray and brown mottling all over; black throat

Male: White tips on outer tail feathers; white patch below throat

Female: All brown tail with buff tips on outer tail feathers; light brown patch below throat

Range: From southern Saskatchewan to the Maritime Provinces in Canada and south through the Midwest to the East Coast, Florida, and around the Gulf Coast into Central America

Habitat: Dry, open woodlands near fields

Eggs: Cream or grayish-white, with lavender-gray, yellowish-brown, or pale brown marbling

Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

Size: 7 to 8 inches

Wingspan: 12 to 13 inches

Comparative size: Sparrow to robin

Description: Large head and eyes; wide mouth with tiny bill and forward-facing whiskers (bristle feathers); short, rounded tail; rounded wings; tiny feet; mottled gray-brown all over; black throat with white patch beneath; outer tail feathers tipped with white

Range: From southern British Columbia and Alberta in Canada and throughout most of the western United States

Habitat: Dry, open grassy or sagebrush areas

Eggs: White or pinkish

Collective noun(s) for nightjars: A seek or an invisibility of whip-poor-wills. There is also a kettle of nighthawks.

98. Adele Nozedar, The Secret Language of Birds: A Treasury of Myths, Folklore and Inspirational True Stories (London: Harper Element, 2006), 252.