Page 6 - PGA Community News - January '25

January 2025
Page 6, PGA C.A.N.! 2 Spaces January 2025

Northern Notes

Nightjars, Nighthawks And goats” and is based bristles around
on an ancient belief
their beaks called
Chuck Will’s Widows that the birds milked rictal bristles,
goats with their which are stiff
By Katie Roundtree, enormous mouths hair-like feathers
Director of Finance and each night. In reality, that arise around
Administration, the birds’ attraction the base of the
Northern Palm Beach to livestock was beak. The function
County Improvement likely due to the of rictal bristles is
District presence of insects. uncertain, although several possibilities have been
Nighthawks and Chuck T hey a re proposed. They may function as a “net,” helping to capture
Will’s Widows are common unique birds with flying prey. Some evidence suggests that they may prevent
birds in South Florida, but a distinctive look particles from striking the eyes. There is also evidence that
most people have never characterized by the rictal bristles of some species may function tactilely,
seen one. They are members long wings, small like that of mammalian whiskers, to help detect prey.
of the Nightjar family and feet, short legs, Widows can be found in various habitats, most
are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular (active at and very short commonly in open areas with some vegetation. Locally,
dawn and dusk) birds in the family Caprimulgidae. bills. They have they live in and around upland preserves. Nighthawks
Nightjars are found worldwide, except Antarctica and short bills but usually spend their days hidden, sometimes in plain view,
certain island groups such as the Seychelles. Nightjars have enormous thanks to their cryptic gray, brown, and blackish plumage
are primarily found in Europe, while Nighthawks and mouths when and the birds’ squat, “neckless” shape. They often prove
Chuck Will’s Widows are found more in the New World. opened to allow challenging to spot even while roosting quietly on a tree
Nightjars, Nighthawks and Chuck Will’s Widows belong them to catch branch or fence post.
to a family of birds with the folk name “goatsuckers.” The insects at night.
family name, Caprimulgidae, literally means “milker of T h e y ha ve Northern Notes on page 7

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