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What causes the whirring sound made by a common nighthawk during courtship?
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Caprimulgiform
Male common nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) landing
The common nighthawk creates its characteristic whirring sound during courtship through mechanical means rather than vocalization. Specifically, this sound is produced by the bird's wings as it performs a swift dive.12
While many birds in the order caprimulgiform rely on vocalizations for mating and territorial signaling, they also frequently utilize mechanical sounds, such as wing claps and whirrs, during their displays.2