Lesser Nighthawk vs Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis comparé à Chordeiles minor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Lesser Nighthawk | Common Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Chordeiles acutipennis | Chordeiles minor |
| Ordre | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Famille | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) | 38,6 cm (15.2 in) |
| Poids | 50,0 g (1.76 oz) | 71,75 g (2.53 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Hawks small flying insects at dusk and dawn over North and South American arid scrub … | Aerial insectivore; catches flying beetles, ants, moths, and flies in fast aerial pursuit over open … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Lesser Nighthawk only
Common Nighthawk 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
Common Nighthawk
Loud, nasal 'peent' call repeated in flight; display dive produces loud booming 'whomp' with wings; churring trill on breeding grounds; colonial roost cacophony
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.
Common Nighthawk
Breeds across North America from Alaska to the Gulf Coast; long-distance migrant wintering in South America south to Argentina.
Statut de conservation
Lesser Nighthawk
Common Nighthawk
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 …
Common Nighthawk
Brown and grey mottled above; white throat in male; white and dark barred underparts; distinctive white wing bar across primaries positioned more centrally than in Lesser Nighthawk; white tail band …
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.
Common Nighthawk
A medium Caprimulgidae nighthawk (~72 g) widespread across North America, wintering in South America. Characterised by white wing patches conspicuous in erratic aerial flight. Breeds on flat gravel rooftops and open ground. Highly aerial; catches flying insects at dusk and night. Least Concern despite urban declines.