Night Bird

[furtech]

While on a late walk this evening, we came across this bird sitting in the road. When we got close, it would flutter around, then land again in the road. Kept returning to this spot, though.

I managed to get this close-up pic of the bird on our return route.

Can anyone ID it? Roz? Tracy? I recognize it, but can't remember the name... "nightjar"?

Is that behavior normal?

Comments

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Nighthawk :) Part of the nightjar family. The behavior could be for various reasons, but it probably has a nest near there, which it's trying to lead you away from, while not getting too far to keep an eye on it.

[auryanne.livejournal.com]

He looks very ANGRY.

[tcreynolds]

Maybe it is a POORWHILL! =D =D

[hbruton.livejournal.com]

Looks like a juvenile nighthawk*certainly a goat sucker of some sort). So cool. He's probably recently fledged and just getting used to flying. Not sure why he's sitting on the road, pretty dangerous place. Hope he survivies and thrives. Love those guys!

[martes.livejournal.com]

It is a poorwill.

You describe typical feeding behavior for them-- they'll sit on the ground and then flutter after a moth or beetle as they see them, then return to the same spot. I am very surprized you managed to get so close, though! That's an excellent photo.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Oh, Cool! I was pretty sure it was a nightjar of some kind (they're pretty distinctive!). Thanks for the note on their feeding patterns: that pretty much describes exactly what it was doing. When I (or the dogs) got near, it would flutter up and around in a 50' circle, then return to about the same place. When it did not want to be found, it landed in some ground cover and (as could be expected) completely disappeared in plain sight.

I cheated for the photo: I noticed that when I used my flashlight to help the autofocus, the bird didn't fly away (bright point of light=not a threat; big, lumbering meat-monkey=threat, but the light blocked my image).

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

Cute!

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Great photo of cute bird, anyway!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

I love those rich and detailed feathermarkings!

[ruggels.livejournal.com]

Good Photo!

[zillabean.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord it's adorable. I love those things.