Lesser Nighthawk vs Long-trained Nightjar
Chordeiles acutipennis compared with Macropsalis forcipata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Nighthawk | Long-trained Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chordeiles acutipennis | Macropsalis forcipata |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 45.0 cm (17.7 in) |
| Weight | 50.0 g (1.76 oz) | 111.25 g (3.92 oz) |
| Diet | Hawks small flying insects at dusk and dawn over North and South American arid scrub … | Aerial insectivore; hawks moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over Atlantic Forest grassland and scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
Long-trained Nightjar
Loud, resonant 'chuck' or 'tuck' notes; hollow knocking quality; calls from Atlantic Forest edge at night; males perform aerial display; alarm a rapid staccato bark
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.
Long-trained Nightjar
Endemic to southeastern Brazil (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro); resident of Atlantic forest edge; vulnerable due to deforestation.
Conservation Status
Lesser Nighthawk
Long-trained 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 …
Long-trained Nightjar
Male with extremely elongated outer tail feathers forming long train up to 60 cm; dark brown with buff and rufous mottling; white throat; white wing bar. Female lacks elongated tail; …
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.
Long-trained Nightjar
A large Caprimulgidae nightjar (~111 g) of subtropical Atlantic forest and open country in southeastern Brazil. Males have extraordinary forked tails extending far beyond body length. Inhabits forest edges and clearings in Atlantic Forest remnants. Feeds on moths and large insects. Least Concern; some decline with deforestation.