Lesser Nighthawk

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Summit Gardens • 27 April 2010

Bird name: Lesser Nighthawk
Latin: Chordeiles acutipennis
Other: Atajacaminos (Es), Chotacabras • Bacurau-de-asa-fina (Br)
Family: Caprimulgidae • Nightjars

The Lesser Nighthawk is found from the southwestern United States all the way to Brazil. This individual was seen east of the Panama Canal in Summit Gardens, at the end of April.

The Lesser Nighthawk can be differentiated in photos from the Common Nighthawk by the staggered white wingbar in the Common, which is usually squarer in the Lesser Nightjar, and which is also said to be proportionally higher up the wing in the Common. The Common Nighthawk also lacks the buff spots of the Lesser Nighthawk above the white wingbar on the primaries. The general colouring of the Common is more contrasty than the Lesser. The Lesser Nighthawk is smaller than the Common Nighthawk, with a less deeply forked tail.

Lesser Nighthawks usually nest on bare ground and hunt for flying insects at dusk or night. They often spend their days sitting on branches.