Chordeiles acutipennis ranges in small numbers from parts of California and Nevada, to larger populations in southern New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

(Sauer, 1997)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

Global Range: BREEDING: from central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western and central Arizona, southern New Mexico, western and southern Texas, south to Peru, northern Chile, Paraguay, southern Brazil. NON-BREEDING: southern Baja California, central Sinaloa, Durango and Veracruz, Mexico, south to limits of breeding range (Terres 1980, AOU 1983). Seldom north of central Mexico in northern winter.

The adult Lesser Nighthawk averages twenty centimeters in length. It has a short bill, and the upper parts of the body have a gray and white patterning. Its head and chest are brown, with white patterning. The underside of the bird has dark bars that run across its stomach. The wings are dark with conspicuous pale patches on the bend of the wing. The tail has thin white bars across the top. An adult male will have a white throat, while the female will have a buff throat and buff spots on inner parts of the wings.

(Robbins et al. 1966)

Length: 23 cm

Weight: 50 grams

• Terrestrial

The Lesser Nighthawk prefers large open areas. They like relatively level topography and naturally open land, as opposed to disturbed open lands with weeds. They are ground nesters. They make their nest on vernal pool soils in large, open areas with low human and pet disturbances. (PRBO, 1965)

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune

Comments: Open country, desert regions, scrub, savanna and cultivated areas, primarily in arid habitats (Tropical and Subtropical zones) (AOU 1983). Open areas with scattered woods or scrub, usually near water, including open marshes, salt ponds, large rivers, rice paddies, beaches (Costa Rica, Stiles and Skutch 1989). Roosts on low perch or on ground, in Panama especially in mangroves and swampy areas (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989). Nests in open on bare site; on open savanna or debris-strewn beach in Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Found year-round in all but northern portion of its range. One of the latest migrants to arrive in U.S., one of the earliest to leave. Northern breeders migrate south as far as northwestern Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986). Common to abundant migrant in Costa Rica, late September-early November (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Local breeders in Panama augmented by migrants from north late July-April (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989).

The diet of the Lesser Nighthawk includes small insects such as winged ants, mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and grasshoppers. They catch these insects while flying high in the air, and near trees and brush along springs and streams. (Bent 1940; Harrison 1978)

Comments: Feeds on insects. Forages in the air during the morning often catching insects low to the ground. Forages at night around bright city lights; may also feed on the open ground at night.

Wanders "great distances" in search of food (Caccamise 1974).

Comments: Feeds actively at night; may also feed during the morning, until about 1100 h (Terres 1980). Crepuscular, occasionally abroad by day (Hilty and Brown 1986). Forages in late afternoon and early morning, rests on ground after dark and sallies for passing insects, roosts during day (Stiles and Skutch 1989). May become torpid with food deprivation and low ambient temperatue.

Lesser Nighthawks breed from early spring to mid summer. The females lay two speckled eggs in a nest constructed on the ground or on a gravel rooftop. The mother will incubate the eggs for eighteen to twenty days. Once hatched, the mother brings food to the newborn nighthawks. Once able to fly, the young nighthawks leave the nest and their mother. (Sauer, 1997)

Clutch size 2. Incubation by female, 18-19 days. One brood annually. Nestlings are semi-precocial and downy, tended by both adults, can fly in about 3 weeks (Harrison 1978). Nests usually in loose colony of up to 10 pairs in Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

The conservation status of the Lesser Nighthawk is uncertain near the Pacific coast. From the Mexican border to the San Joaquin Valley, the bird is scarce. Most of its natural habitat has already been lost. (Lovio, 1998)

US Federal List: threatened

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The Lesser Nighthawk does not have any negative influences on humans or the environment.

The Lesser Nighthawk helps to keep the insect population under control. These are a very rare bird to see, making them desirable for bird watchers to see and photograph. (Bent 1940; Harrison 1978)