Credit: J. N. Stuart
North American field guide
Lesser Nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
22 cm (8") Fairly common. Southwestern United States. Fields, prairies, arid scrub, grasslands, ponds, deserts.
Smaller than similar Common Nighthawk. Flies very low to ground and does not dive bomb.
In flight; white patch near wing tip.
Song: distinctive rapid trill.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Lesser Nighthawk
Credit: Don DesJardinLesser Nighthawk flying against sunset
Credit: Art BrownWhere it lives
Distribution map
Source legend · original intervals
Loading the rebuilt map…
Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 3 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Lesser Nighthawk
3 rulesRule 1 11 criteria · confidence 5
- Where was the white seen in flight ?
- On the wings and underbody · Mainly on the wings · Unknown
- Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?
- Yes · Unknown
- How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
- In flight
- What SHAPE were the wings ?
- Pointed · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Swallow-like · Hawk-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 2 15 criteria · confidence 5
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 3 15 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Uniform color · Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States