Nightjars (Goatsuckers)

Nightjars are some of Utah's most unusual birds. If you're lucky, you'll spot one darting through the evening sky at dusk or just after sunrise, twisting and turning as it hunts flying insects. By the middle of the day, however, it's a completely different story.

Rather than perching upright on small branches like a songbird, nightjars usually rest flat against the surface beneath them. That might mean sitting directly on the ground, settling onto a fence rail or rock, or lying lengthwise along a broad tree branch. Their short legs and mottled feathers make this low, stretched-out posture look almost like part of the surface itself.

That camouflage can be incredibly effective. A bird resting along bark, gravel, or leaf litter may be only a few feet away and still nearly disappear. During the day, finding one is often less about looking for a bird shape and more about noticing that something in the pattern doesn't quite belong.

Late summer is also a great time to pay attention to them. As August continues, Common Nighthawks begin moving south toward their wintering grounds in South America.

Their nickname, "Goatsucker," comes from an old myth that they drank milk from goats. In reality, they're built for something much more useful. Their tiny-looking bills open into enormous mouths that help them scoop moths, beetles, mosquitoes, and other flying insects from the air.

Common Poorwills can be especially easy to miss because they often sit directly on roads after dark. Photographer Keegan Steele was told to "look for tiny red eyes," and that simple clue led him to the bird below. With the headlights left on, they slowly moved closer, watching the poorwill nearly disappear into the road despite being only a short distance away. It's a perfect reminder that sometimes the first thing you'll notice isn't the bird—it's the reflection in its eyes.

Last summer I was camping with our church youth group at Nat-Soo-Pah Hot Springs in Idaho when a large group of Common Nighthawks filled the evening sky above camp. They spent the evening twisting through the air, calling as they hunted insects overhead.

The real surprise came the next morning, when several were still feeding after sunrise. With the sun finally providing good light, I was able to spend time watching them hunt and capture some fun flight photographs of a bird that's usually active when the light is working against you.

For Utah birders, Common Nighthawks are the species you're most likely to encounter. Lesser Nighthawks are much more limited and are primarily found in the warm deserts of southwestern Utah. They're smaller, but size can be tricky without another bird nearby. A better clue is the white wing patch, which sits noticeably closer to the wing tip than it does on a Common Nighthawk.