Nighthawks are predatory birds that hunt at night. They are usually found in urban areas, perching on telephone poles and streetlights to look for prey. Nighthawks are also known as nightjars, goatsuckers, and whip-poor-wills. Nightjars are similar to nighthawks in appearance, but are found in rural areas and have longer wings. Goatsuckers are also predators that hunt at night, but are smaller than nighthawks and have distinctive markings on their wings. Whip-poor-wills are another type of nightjar that is known for its distinctive call. All of these synonyms refer to birds that are active at night and play an important role in controlling insect populations.