Lesser Nighthawk

The lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis, is a nightjar species that graces the skies of the Americas. This bird bears a resemblance to its cousin, the common nighthawk, but is distinguished by its slightly smaller stature, a less deeply forked tail, and a more buffy color palette. Its expansive mouth is superbly adapted for snatching insects in midair, a trait that is emblematic of its kind.

Identification Tips

When observing the lesser nighthawk, one notes the large mouth juxtaposed with small, almost inconsequential feet. Its plumage is a mottled tapestry of browns and grays, providing excellent camouflage against the desert floor where it often rests during daylight hours. Males can be identified by a striking white bar at the end of their tails and wingtips, while females exhibit a more subdued cream bar on their wingtips and lack the tail stripe. Both sexes share a distinctive white v-shaped mark on their throat. Despite the size of its mouth, the beak of the lesser nighthawk is notably short and curved.

Habitat

The lesser nighthawk favors the arid landscapes of deserts and grasslands, particularly in regions with lower elevations. It thrives in open spaces where insects, its primary food source, abound.

Distribution

This species calls the southern reaches of North America its home, migrating to the warmer climes of southern Central America and northern South America during the winter months. Come spring and summer, it returns to the southern United States to breed.

Behaviour

The lesser nighthawk is a creature of the night, quieter than its common nighthawk relative. It is a rarity to hear its vocalizations, which are typically reserved for the breeding season.

Song & Calls

The lesser nighthawk's vocal repertoire includes toadlike trills that can last from 7 to 13 seconds and sometimes extend beyond 3 minutes. Its calls are reminiscent of a low, gurgled chuckle.

Diet and Feeding

As a nocturnal insectivore, the lesser nighthawk captures its prey mid-flight, utilizing its broad mouth lined with fine hairs to ensnare insects. Its diet is composed of flies, mosquitoes, moths, and June bugs. The bird is an opportunistic feeder, targeting the most abundant and easily caught insects, and may forage alone or in groups depending on the season.

Breeding

Courtship is an aerial ballet, with the male circling the female, throat puffed, emitting a trilling call. Females lay their eggs directly on the ground, relying on their plumage to camouflage and protect them. In the intense heat of their desert breeding grounds, females will move their eggs to shaded areas to prevent overheating. The eggs are clay-colored with gray-purple spots, and the incubation period is approximately 18 days, with nestlings fledging after 21 days. Both parents participate in feeding the young by regurgitation.

Conservation status

The lesser nighthawk is currently classified as Least Concern, though its range may be affected by climate change in the future.

Adaptations

Adapted to extreme temperatures, the lesser nighthawk employs gular fluttering to cool itself in severe heat. This rapid throat vibration is a vital adaptation for survival in the hot desert environments where it breeds.

Flight

In flight, the lesser nighthawk skims close to the ground, its buoyant wings carrying it in a V-shape with short glides or flutters, reminiscent of a butterfly's flight pattern. This low-flying technique aids in capturing insects that swarm near lights at night.