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
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.