General Description: Lesser Nighthawks (Chordeiles acutipennis) are medium-sized, mottled gray birds of the night. The wings are long, narrow, and pointed, with a white bar across the wing. The white bar is out towards the tip of the wing (in Common Nighthawks, the white wing-bar is closer to the wrist). Lesser Nighthawks are also more brown than Common Nighthawks. Males have a white throat patch.

Lesser Nighthawk make a rapid trilling call, which is quite different from the "peent" call of Common Nighthawks.

Poorwills also fly at night, but their wings are all brown, and the call is "poor-will."

Taxonomy: Caprimulgiformes, Caprimulgidae, Chordeilinae.

Favored Habitat: Open desert.

Where to Find: Out in the desert. Nighthawks fly at dusk, usually quite close to the ground (below shrub level).

Comments: Lesser Nighthawks usually sleep during the day on the ground.