Silky-tailed Nightjar vs Lesser Nighthawk
Antrostomus sericocaudatus compared with Chordeiles acutipennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Silky-tailed Nightjar | Lesser Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antrostomus sericocaudatus | Chordeiles acutipennis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.1 cm (12.6 in) | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 77.5 g (2.73 oz) | 50.0 g (1.76 oz) |
| Diet | Hawks moths and beetles in nocturnal aerial sallies over South American lowland and foothill forest. | Hawks small flying insects at dusk and dawn over North and South American arid scrub … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Whistled, rolling 'pwee-pwee-pwee'; melodic phrase from Amazonian forest; calls persistently at dusk; slightly slurred delivery; alarm a sudden sharp note
Lesser Nighthawk
Loud purring trill; buzzy 'brrrrr' given in flight; lower and softer than Common Nighthawk; males display with booming wingbeats; calls at dusk over deserts
Geographic Range & Migration
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Resident of lowland and foothill forest in southern Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina) and adjacent Paraguay and Argentina.
Lesser Nighthawk
Breeds in open arid scrub from southwestern USA south through Central America to western South America; winters in Mexico and northern South America.
Conservation Status
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Lesser Nighthawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Brown and buff mottled above with dark vermiculations; white gorget in male; outer tail feathers with silky-white inner webs giving smooth appearance; pale buff below; female with buff gorget and …
Lesser Nighthawk
Brown and buff mottled above; buff-white below with brown barring; white throat in male; white wing bar closer to wingtip than in Common Nighthawk; buff tail band. Female with buff …
About These Birds
Silky-tailed Nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~78 g) of humid lowland Atlantic Forest and adjacent cerrado edges in central and southeastern Brazil and adjacent Paraguay. Named for its silky-textured outer tail feathers. Cryptic brown plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Rarely recorded; biology little known. Least Concern.
Lesser Nighthawk
A small Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~50 g) of deserts, semi-arid scrub, and open woodland from the southwestern United States to Peru and Brazil. Brown-and-buff patterned; males have a white throat bar. Low, buoyant flight close to the ground at dusk. Hunts insects aerially. Migratory; Least Concern.