About the Lesser Nighthawk
The lesser nighthawk 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.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Nightjars and Allies (Caprimulgidae) |
| Species | Chordeiles acutipennis |
| Species Codes | lesnig, LENI |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Lesser Nighthawk belong to?
The Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) belongs to the Nightjars and Allies family (Caprimulgidae), in the order Caprimulgiformes.
How can I identify the Lesser Nighthawk?
The lesser nighthawk 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...
Where can I report a Lesser Nighthawk sighting?
You can log sightings of Lesser Nighthawk on eBird (ebird.org) using species code lesnig, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Nightjars and Allies 98 species
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