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Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk resting in a can dump

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.

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)

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.

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk in flight
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk in flight
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawks fly low and hunt among the shrubs
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawks fly low and hunt among the shrubs
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk roosting on the ground
Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Lesser Nighthawk roosting in a can dump

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240117

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