A common nighthawk at Seedskadee Refuge in Wyoming

A common nighthawk at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming takes a break from the evening hunt for flying insects. Nighthawks are commonly snotted at the refuge during July and August, with abundant flying insects along the river corridor and good nesting habitat in the adjacent sage steppe. In late August, nighthawks begin to gather in large groups to feed heavily along the river and wetlands, before departing en masse. Common nighthawks travel one of the longest migration routes of any North American bird. Most travel over land through Mexico and Central America to reach their wintering grounds in southern South America.