Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis (Hermann, 1783)

48 gWeight

The lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) is a nightjar found throughout a large part of the Americas.

Busiest months: April · Most records: United States, Costa Rica, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Lesser Nighthawk has been recorded at 578 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 22 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Bentsen-Rio Grande Val. SP WBC (Mission)United States891 records
Tárcoles – Tour en BoteCosta Rica883 records
Sierra Vista EOPUnited States849 records

More places

Estero Llano Grande SP WBCUnited States768 records
Irvine Regional ParkUnited States746 records
South Padre Is. – WBC/Conv. Center/Laguna Madre TrailUnited States729 records
Sweetwater WetlandsUnited States689 records
Glendale Recharge PondsUnited States606 records
South Padre Is. – Valley Land Fund lotsUnited States597 records
Desert Botanical GardenUnited States593 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Costa Rica Mexico Colombia Belize Panama Honduras Guatemala

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) is a nightjar found throughout a large part of the Americas. This bird looks similar to the common nighthawk but is slightly smaller, has a slightly less deeply forked tail, and is more buffy in coloration. Their distinctive mouths are very well adapted for capturing insects mid-flight.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Lesser Nighthawk?

The Lesser Nighthawk weighs around 48 g.

Where does the Lesser Nighthawk live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: southwestern USA to northern Argentina. It is most often recorded in United States, Costa Rica and Mexico.