Page 4 - Southern Exposure - January '25

Page 4, Southern Exposure

northern noteS

Nightjars, Nighthawks And Chuck Will’s Widows

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

Nighthawks and Chuck name is an onomatopoeia from its song. As is often the case declining insect populations, and pesticide contamination
Will’s Widows are common with Nightjars, the Chuck-Will’s-widow was named due to have all been suggested as potential culprits.
birds in South Florida, but its song, which to many sounds like a phrase composed of These fantastic but rarely seen birds are an integral part of
most people have never seen the words “chuck,” “will’s,” and “widow”: “Chuck Will’s the Florida ecosystem. Now that the evenings are cool, enjoy
one. They are members of Widow. Chuck-will’s-WID-ow. Chuck-will’s-WID-ow.” a walk by a preserve area in or around your neighborhood.
the Nightjar family and are The first syllable of the call is often hard for humans to Listen for the call of the “widow” or watch the looping
medium-sized nocturnal or hear. You can hear their distinctive call in the evening or Nighthawks as they search for dinner.
crepuscular (active at dawn pre-dawn hours. NPDES tip: Storms occur all year round. Make sure your
and dusk) birds in the family As is the case with many Nightjars worldwide, Nighthawk yards and trees are trimmed neatly to avoid flying debris
Caprimulgidae. Nightjars and Chuck Will’s Widow numbers are declining. The factors during a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and clippings
are found worldwide, except driving these declines are elusive, but habitat destruction, properly—do not put them into storm drains or lakes!
Antarctica and certain island
groups such as the Seychelles. Nightjars are primarily found
in Europe, while Nighthawks and Chuck Will’s Widows are
found more in the New World. Nightjars, Nighthawks and
Chuck Will’s Widows belong to a family of birds with the
folk name “goatsuckers.” The family name, Caprimulgidae,
literally means “milker of goats” and is based on an ancient
belief that the birds milked goats with their enormous mouths
each night. In reality, the birds’ attraction to livestock was
likely due to the presence of insects.
They are unique birds
with a distinctive look
characterized by long wings,
small feet, short legs, and
very short bills. They have
short bills but have enormous Time for
mouths when opened to
allow them to catch insects
at night. They have bristles
around their beaks called
rictal bristles, which are stiff
hair-like feathers that arise
around the base of the beak. a change?
The function of rictal bristles is uncertain, although several
possibilities have been proposed. They may function as a
“net,” helping to capture flying prey. Some evidence suggests
that they may prevent particles from striking the eyes. There
is also evidence that the rictal bristles of some species may
function tactilely, like that of mammalian whiskers, to help
detect prey.
Widows can be found Burns Wealth Management Group
in various habitats, most
commonly in open areas
with some vegetation.
Locally, they live in and
around upland preserves.
Nighthawks usually spend their days hidden, sometimes in
plain view, thanks to their cryptic gray, brown, and blackish Robert Burns
plumage and the birds’ squat, “neckless” shape. They often CFP , ChFC , CPWA ®
®
®
prove challenging to spot even while roosting quietly on a
tree branch or fence post. Managing Director
They usually lay their eggs directly on the ground rather Wealth Partner, Portfolio Manager
than in a nest. They are incredibly good at camouflage, and 3825 PGA Blvd, Floor 9,
their coloring allows them to blend in remarkably well with Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410
the leaves and trees around them. Their soft plumage is 561.694.5666
colored to resemble bark or leaves, protecting them from their
primary predators: foxes and raccoons. As a defense, these robert.m.burns@jpmorgan.com
birds can hide in leaves on the ground, spread their wings and jpmorgan.com/burnswm
open their mouths to resemble cottonmouth snakes preparing
to strike. Some species perch face lengthwise along a branch
rather than across it as birds usually do to hide during the
day, blending seamlessly
with tree bark.
The Common
Nighthawk’s erratic, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP , CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™,
®
®
®
acrobatic flight style gives CFP (with plaque design) and CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully
®
®
the bird its folk name complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Chartered Financial Consultant (“ChFC ”) is a
registered trademark owned by The American College of Financial Services. Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The
“bullbat.” They fly alone Institute) is the owner of the certification marks “CPWA,” and “Certified Private Wealth Advisor.” CPWA, and/or Certified
or in groups in a looping Private Wealth Advisor signifies that the user has successfully completed The Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing
pattern. This dusky hunter requirements for investment management professionals and/or wealth advisors.
jerks and weaves through J.P. Morgan Wealth Management is a business of JPMorgan Chase & Co., which offers investment products and services
the air on long, pointed through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, member FINRA and
SIPC. Insurance products are made available through Chase Insurance Agency, Inc. (CIA), a licensed insurance agency,
wings, flashing distinctive doing business as Chase Insurance Agency Services, Inc. in Florida. Certain custody and other services are provided
white wing patches. by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB). JPMS, CIA and JPMCB are affiliated companies under the common control of
Chuck Will’s Widows are JPMorgan Chase & Co. Products not available in all states.
the largest of the Nightjars INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS:
and are primarily nocturnal. • NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
They have enormous As a defense, these birds • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
mouths that, when open, can hide in leaves on the
can catch flying insects ground, spread their wings ©2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved.
like beetles and moths but and open their mouths to
can even catch small birds resemble cottonmouth snakes
or bats on occasion. Their preparing to strike.