This section is from the book "Bird Guide: Water Birds, Game Birds And Birds Of Prey East Of The Rockies", by Chester A. Reed. Also available from Amazon: The Bird Book.
420. Chordeiles virginianus. 10 inches.
Male with white throat and white band across tail; female with rusty throat and no white on tail. Notice that the Nighthawk has a forked tail and white band across the wings, thus being readily distinguished at a distance from the Whip-poor-will.
Note. - A loud nasal "peent."
Nest. - None, the two mottled gray and white eggs being laid on bare rocks in pastures, on the ground or under brush, or on gravel roofs in cities; size 1.20 x .85.
Range. - United States east of the Plains, breeding from Florida to Labrador; winters south of United States. Three sub-species occur: - 420a. Western Night-hawk (henryi), west of the Plains; 420b. Florida Night-hawk (chapmani); 420c. Sennett Nighthawk (sennetti), a pale race found on the Plains north to Saskatchewan.
 
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