Nighthawk

LC	Least Concern (LC) This species is least concerned. Wild populations of this species are not at risk, but appropriate attention should be given.

Nighthawk
Name	Nighthawk Yotaka 夜鷹
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Order	Caprimulgiformes
Family	Caprimulgidae
Species	Caprimulgus jotaka
Origin	Anywhere except Antarctica
Related Species	Hawk, nightingale

Nighthawks are a bird species of the Caprimulgiformes order. In ACG works, yotaka and yotaka-based things sometimes appear.

Introduction

• Nighthawks are widely distributed in every continent except Antarctica.

• They rest on the ground during the day or rest their bodies flat on* tree trunks. Has a protective grey, brown or reddish-brown colour similar to bark or stone. And hunt at night.

• Although they are called hawks, due to their small size, they mainly feed on insects. Can opentheir mouth to eat insects during flight.

• Nighthawks often call at night, making a continuous monosyllabic call that resembles "ta, ta, ta, ta", similar to the sound of a machine gun.

• Some species of nighthawk also hibernate dormant habits.

• During the breeding season, some nighthawk have long tail feathers and white markings on the inside of their cockles, which are features used for aerial courtship.

Yotaka and human culture

• The scientific name Caprimulgiformes comes from the genus Caprimulgus, which comes from "capra-mulgere" in Latin, because in Western folklore it was said that nighthawks steal goat milk.

• Because nighthawks have protective colors, they are accustomed to sticking to tree trunks or stones and the ground during the day, which is called "sticking bark" in North China. In Taiwan, there are commonly known names such as "Shiji Aberdeen" and "Shiji Bird".

• As early as the Jin and Tang dynasties, the characteristics of its mouth opening to eat mosquitoes have been described. Because it opened its mouth to eat mosquitoes while flying, the ancients mistakenly thought it was spitting out mosquitoes, so they gave it names such as "mosquito mother" and "spitting mosquito bird".

• Because the nighthawk will make continuous monosyllabic calls of "ta, ta, ta, ta" at night, making it impossible to sleep. Therefore, the term "nighthawk" can also refer to the recurring thoughts at night that disturb us and keep us from falling asleep.

• Because nighthawks are active at night, in many works, the characters named Nighthawk often have the characteristics of agents and spies.

• The US Air Force stealth attack aircraft F117 is nicknamed the Nighthawk.

Nighthawks in ACG

Biological

• Shinsekai Yori: Kihoumaru will use the a nighthawk (yotaka) for night reconnaissance.

Anthropomorphic

• The Nighthawk Star: This manga is adapted from the fairy tale of the same name by Kenji Miyazawa. It tells the story of a nighthawk who had been outnumbered and turned into a star by flying into the sky.

Nighthawk-related things

• Marvel: After Kyle Richmond took a potion made from a mysterious formula, he gained a superpower that could be used at night, and he became "Nighthawk".
• DC Comics: There are two generations of "Nighthawk" in "Hawkman": Hannibal Hawkes and Hannibal Hawke, whose clothes are printed with the pattern of Nighthawk.
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2: Allied Air Force combat unit helicopter Nighthawk.
• Command & Conquer: Generals: U.S. Air Force combat unit stealth fighter (F-117A Nighthawk).

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