. Birds of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Birds; Birds. COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor) The nighthawk is not a hawk at all, but a goatsucker which is adapted to aerial flycatching. Nighthawks have long wings and huge mouths. They are most active during late evening and early morning hours. In this poor light they can be identified by their unusually long wings, their erratic flight, and a nasal //peent,/ uttered repeatedly in flight. During the mating season nighthawks also produce an unusual booming sound which occurs when the bird initiates rapid braking wingbeats at the cul
. Birds of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Birds; Birds. COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor) The nighthawk is not a hawk at all, but a goatsucker which is adapted to aerial flycatching. Nighthawks have long wings and huge mouths. They are most active during late evening and early morning hours. In this poor light they can be identified by their unusually long wings, their erratic flight, and a nasal //peent,/ uttered repeatedly in flight. During the mating season nighthawks also produce an unusual booming sound which occurs when the bird initiates rapid braking wingbeats at the culmination of a spectacular aerial dive. The diet of the nighthawk is made up entirely of airborne insects which range in size from minute gnats to large moths, all of which are taken on the wing. Nighthawks are fairly common at lower elevations in both Yellowstone and Grand Calliope Hummingbird Danny On BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon) With its harsh, rattling call, clean-cut markings and bold outline, the king- fisher is a very distinctive bird. As its name implies, the kingfisher is an excellent fisher, usually launching the attack on its prey from an exposed perch in full view of a lake or river. Kingfishers nest in holes dug in exposed banks where they lay 5 to 8 pure white eggs. The female kingfisher is dis- tinguished from the male by a chestnut band across the breast. Several Plains Indian tribes carried kingfisher skins with them into battle, believ- ing that the kingfisher's rapid movements were transmitted to the warrior, thus enabling him to dodge enemy bullets and arrows. In ancient England the dried body of a kingfisher was kept in the house as a protection against lightning. Kingfishers are common residents along waterways of both parks. 38. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original
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