Common nighthawk ?

[takkatakka]

Hi,saw this bird at a golf course in Oshawa and I am wondering if it is a Common nighthawk. The wing shape and black tip at end of the tail make me think it is a Common nighthawk.

Sorry the image is out of focus.

There were several small birds around it (a mix of swallows and a few American goldfinch). They seemed to be mobbing it like crows would do to owls and hawks.

Your help is appreciated.

[thouc]

You should be able to see the white crescents on a Nighthawk. I'm thinking a falcon, can't tell which one.

/Thomas

[lucky tern]

def a falcon, give me more of a merlin vibe than a peregine (but not very sure on that call)

[JW Mills]

If it was small like a nighthawk then I'm thinking Kestrel.
Also, the silhouette, long tail and wide black band at the tail tip match the Peterson illustration.
However I'm not sure either.

[Walter Fisher]

The hawkwatcher from Rosetta is bettin' the house that it's a Merlin. :wink:
- shorter, broader tail than a Kestrel
- tail is squared-off compared to the Kestrel's tail which is more tapered
- tail is quite dark compared to the Kestrel's rufous-coloured tail.  Adult Kestrels have a single wide black band near the tip of their tail.

Some points quoted from Jerry Liguori's 'Hawks at a Distance' raptor identification guide book.

Hope this helps,
Walter

[takkatakka]

Thank you to everyone for helping us Id this mystery bird.