Lesser Nighthawk vs Malay Eared-nightjar
Chordeiles acutipennis compared with Lyncornis temminckii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Nighthawk | Malay Eared-nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles acutipennis | Lyncornis temminckii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) |
| Weight | 50.0 g (1.76 oz) | 95.0 g (3.35 oz) |
| Diet | Hawks small flying insects at dusk and dawn over North and South American arid scrub … | Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches large moths and beetles in flight over SE Asian lowland forest. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Lesser Nighthawk only
Malay Eared-nightjar only
Song & Call Comparison
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
Malay Eared-nightjar
Loud, repeated 'tock-tock-tock' or 'bonk-bonk'; hollow, wooden quality; carries well through lowland forest; alarm a sharp 'chek'; call accelerates toward end
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Malay Eared-nightjar
Resident of lowland forest, forest edge, and secondary growth in Brunei, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, up to 600 m.
Conservation Status
Lesser Nighthawk
Malay Eared-nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Malay Eared-nightjar
Brown and buff mottled with black vermiculations; distinctive long narrow ear-tufts projecting from crown; buff-white throat patch; no white wing spots; tail broadly barred brown and buff. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
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.
Malay Eared-nightjar
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~95 g) of forest edges, secondary growth, and plantation margins in Sundaland, including the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines. Distinguished by small, inconspicuous ear tufts. Nocturnal aerial insectivore. Rarely observed; calls heard at night. Least Concern.