What Bird Makes a Sound Like a Donkey? The Astonishing Bray of the Common Nighthawk
The bird that often startles listeners with its surprising donkey-like call is the Common Nighthawk. This nocturnal bird, primarily active at dusk and dawn, produces a distinctive nasal “peent” or a rasping “bur-r-r-ip”, the latter sometimes being mistaken for the braying of a miniature donkey.
Unveiling the Common Nighthawk: A Bird of Many Surprises
The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is a fascinating creature that often goes unnoticed due to its crepuscular habits and exceptional camouflage. Understanding its unique vocalizations, behavior, and habitat requirements is crucial to appreciating its role in the ecosystem. This article dives deep into the nighthawk’s donkey-like calls and other distinguishing features.
Identification and Habitat
Identifying a Common Nighthawk can be tricky, as their mottled gray, black, and brown plumage blends seamlessly with tree bark and rocks. They are medium-sized birds, roughly the size of an American Robin, with long, pointed wings and a short bill. Key features include:
- A white bar across each wing, visible during flight.
- Cryptic coloration providing excellent camouflage.
- A wide mouth used for catching insects in flight.
Nighthawks are highly adaptable and can be found across North and South America during different times of the year. Their breeding habitats range from open woodlands and grasslands to urban areas with flat gravel rooftops, which they often use as nesting sites. They prefer areas with open ground or short vegetation, making them common sights in:
- Cleared forests
- Prairie lands
- Urban rooftops
- Gravel pits
Why Does a Bird Sound Like a Donkey? The Mystery of the Nighthawk’s Call
The donkey-like call of the Common Nighthawk is primarily a mating call, used by males to attract females during the breeding season. The “bur-r-r-ip” sound is produced during the male’s dramatic courtship display, which involves a steep dive followed by a sudden upward swoop, creating a resonating sound with its wing feathers.
The sound is thought to be produced by air rushing through the modified primary feathers of the wing during the “boom” that occurs at the bottom of the dive. While the “peent” call is more common and less likely to be confused with a donkey, the rasping “bur-r-r-ip” is the distinctive sound that causes the misidentification. What bird makes a sound like a donkey? The Common Nighthawk, particularly the male during mating displays, is the primary culprit.
Nighthawk Behavior and Diet
Nighthawks are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects, including mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. They are aerial foragers, catching insects in flight with their exceptionally wide mouths. Their foraging behavior is highly influenced by light levels, with peak activity occurring around dusk and dawn.
Key aspects of their behavior include:
- Nocturnal and crepuscular activity.
- Aerial foraging for insects.
- Unique courtship displays involving dives and booming sounds.
- Camouflaged plumage for protection.
Conservation Status and Threats
While the Common Nighthawk is currently listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their populations have been declining in many areas. Key threats to their survival include:
- Habitat loss due to urbanization and deforestation.
- Pesticide use, which reduces insect populations and contaminates food sources.
- Climate change, which can alter insect abundance and distribution.
- Nest disturbance, especially on rooftops, due to human activity.
Conservation efforts aimed at protecting nighthawk populations include:
- Habitat restoration and management.
- Reducing pesticide use.
- Raising public awareness about nighthawk conservation.
- Protecting nesting sites on rooftops.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What exactly does the Common Nighthawk’s call sound like?
The Common Nighthawk has two primary calls: a nasal “peent” that is commonly heard and a rasping “bur-r-r-ip” or booming sound, which is often described as being similar to the bray of a miniature donkey or a croaking noise. This second call is particularly prevalent during mating displays.
Where can I typically hear this “donkey-like” call?
You’re most likely to hear the “donkey-like” call, or “boom”, of a Common Nighthawk during their breeding season, which varies depending on location but generally falls between late spring and early summer. Listen for it around dusk and dawn in open areas such as fields, forests, and even urban rooftops.
Is the Common Nighthawk the only bird that sounds like a donkey?
While the Common Nighthawk is the most well-known bird to mimic a donkey’s bray, other birds can produce similar sounds, particularly during distress calls or territorial disputes. However, the nighthawk’s distinctive “bur-r-r-ip” call is the most common source of this auditory confusion.
Are both male and female nighthawks responsible for the donkey-like call?
The donkey-like “bur-r-r-ip” call is primarily produced by male nighthawks during their dramatic courtship displays. The males dive steeply towards the ground and then pull up sharply, creating the resonating sound with their wings to attract females.
How can I distinguish the Common Nighthawk’s call from an actual donkey’s bray?
The Common Nighthawk’s “donkey-like” sound is typically shorter and more raspy than the bray of a donkey. Context is also important; you’re more likely to hear the nighthawk in the air during dusk or dawn, while a donkey would be found in a farm or rural setting.
What is the purpose of the Common Nighthawk’s call?
The primary purpose of the Common Nighthawk’s “peent” call is for general communication, while the “bur-r-r-ip” or “boom” is primarily a mating call used by males to attract females during their courtship displays.
Why does the Common Nighthawk nest on rooftops?
Common Nighthawks choose flat, gravel rooftops as nesting sites because they resemble their natural breeding habitats, such as open ground with sparse vegetation. The gravel provides good camouflage for their eggs and chicks.
How can I help protect Common Nighthawks in my area?
You can help protect Common Nighthawks by reducing pesticide use in your garden, preserving open spaces and grasslands, and avoiding disturbance of nesting sites on rooftops. Supporting conservation organizations that work to protect nighthawk habitat is also beneficial.
Are Common Nighthawks related to hawks?
Despite the name, Common Nighthawks are not closely related to true hawks. They belong to the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae), which are nocturnal or crepuscular birds with soft plumage and wide mouths.
What does a Common Nighthawk eat?
Common Nighthawks are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects, including mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and flies. They are aerial foragers, catching insects in flight with their exceptionally wide mouths.
How long do Common Nighthawks live?
The lifespan of a Common Nighthawk is typically 4-8 years in the wild. Factors such as habitat quality, food availability, and predator pressure can influence their longevity.
What bird makes a sound like a donkey? What is the scientific name?
What bird makes a sound like a donkey? The bird most often mistaken for making a donkey-like bray is the Common Nighthawk, with the scientific name Chordeiles minor. The unusual vocalization is often related to its mating displays.