Watercolor portrait of Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

What does the Common Nighthawk sound like at night?

Chordeiles minor
Sounds at Night Heard after dark Fairly common

Press play. If that is the sound outside, you have your answer — the Common Nighthawk's "peent... BOOM".

“peent... BOOM”

What you're hearing

In flight, the bird repeats a nasal peent. During a steep courtship dive, air rushing through the male’s wing feathers makes a sudden booming sound.

“peent... BOOM”

Birders often file this one under Peent call and wing boom.

What time of night you hear it

Dusk and into the night, often over towns, parking lots and ballfields.

Most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular), when they can be seen flying with erratic, bat-like movements hunting for insects.

Why a Common Nighthawk calls at night

A nasal, buzzy peent from a bird cutting erratic circles overhead in the half-dark, punctuated by a hollow BOOM as the male dives and air rushes through his wingtips. It is the most urban of the nightjars, which is why the sound turns up over city lights.

What else could it be?

The other voices you are most likely to hear in the dark. Play them and compare.

Common Poorwill

Smaller size with shorter wings

Barred Owl

Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?

Great Horned Owl

hoo-h'HOO hoo-hoo

Common Nighthawk night call FAQ

What does a Common Nighthawk sound like at night?
In flight, the bird repeats a nasal peent. During a steep courtship dive, air rushing through the male’s wing feathers makes a sudden booming sound. Birders write it as "peent... BOOM".
What time of night do you hear Common Nighthawks?
Dusk and into the night, often over towns, parking lots and ballfields.
Why is a Common Nighthawk calling at night?
A nasal, buzzy peent from a bird cutting erratic circles overhead in the half-dark, punctuated by a hollow BOOM as the male dives and air rushes through his wingtips. It is the most urban of the nightjars, which is why the sound turns up over city lights.

More Common Nighthawk sounds

Common Nighthawk: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.Bird Screeching at Night? Identify It by Ear, Step by StepIt is 2:00 AM. The house is quiet. Then: SQUEAK. SQUEAK. If you have landed here, you are probably hearing weird bird sounds at night and trying to decide whether to call a mechanic, a ghost hunter, or a birdwatcher.What Bird Sings at Night? 6 Species to ID by EarHear birds singing in the middle of the night? From owls and nightjars to mockingbirds and robins, learn who sings after dark and how to tell them apart by ear.Winter Bird Sounds: 5 Calls to Learn While It's Cold OutsideWinter is actually the best time to learn bird sounds. Fewer species, quieter woods, and bare branches that carry sound farther. Here are 5 birds you'll hear this winter — and how to recognize them by ear.