NIGHTHAWK OBSERVATION
Date: Monday November 3rd, 2003
Place: Dismal Swamp (South Plainfield-Metuchen) along the Bound Brook off of Talmadge Road in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Time: 9:45AM to 11:30AM
Observers: Adrian Binns, Bert Filemyr and Bill Murphy and joined by Glen and Eileen Mahler
Conditions: Sunny, cloudless morning with warm 60 degree plus temperature and little breeze.
A nighthawk of approximately 9-10" in length, was perched on a horizontal Ash (?) branch about 20 feet off the ground. Observation was possible from all sides as well as from underneath. Numerous digital pictures were taken with a Sony camera through a Nikon ED 78 mm fieldscope from various angles. During our time with the bird it moved (turned perpendicular to the branch) on two occasions to defecate, and at least twice lifted its tail.
Breast to Undertail Covert Coloration. When we first saw the bird it was positioned in such a way that we had a clear look at the underside, clearly being able to see that the buffy coloration of the belly became stronger in color as it neared the tail, thus give it a contrasting darker buffy color in the undertail coverts verses a lighter buffy belly and breast.
Throat Coloration and Breast Barring. As it stretched its neck the throat showed a buffy throat patch. At this time it was noted that the breast and belly showed narrow black barring with wider gray/buff barring between the black bars, and that the head appeared to be small in relation to the body.
Forked Tail and Tail-Primary Projection. The bird settled down length ways along the branch and we were able to determine that the primaries did not project beyond the tail. Upon further inspection from various angles as well as from right angles to the bird, the tail was (deeply) forked and appeared to be approximately ¼" to 3/8" longer than the primaries. The primaries ended approximately half way between the fork of the tail and the tail tip.
The Primaries. There was a narrow light colored band around the inner web (vane) of the primary feather that continued beyond the tip of the rachis and stopped shortly after it made the turn on the outer web edge. The shape of the tip of the primaries appeared to be more rounded than pointed and the primaries were slightly worn. The distance between P6 and P7 appeared to be the same as between P7 and P8, and between P9 and P10. The distance between P8 and P9 was about 20% greater. At all times the primaries were underneath the tail, but clearly in view as we were viewing the bird from underneath.
Scapulars. Fresh scapulars with extensive black markings and pattern on the top 75% of the feather with a strong buffy lower 25% of the feather
Lesser Coverts. Fresh feathers showing buffy spotting
Median and Greater Coverts. Slightly worn feathers with white feather markings
Head. Buffy tones
in fresh plumage, similar in coloration to the lesser coverts