General Description: Lesser Nighthawks (Chordeiles acutipennis) are medium-sized, mottled gray birds of the night. The wings are long, narrow, and pointed, with a white bar across the wing. The white bar is out towards the tip of the wing (in Common Nighthawks, the white wing bar is closer to the wrist). Lesser Nighthawks are also more brown than Common Nighthawks. Males have a white throat patch.

Lesser Nighthawk make a rapid trilling call, which is quite different from the "peent" call of Common Nighthawks.

Poorwills also fly at night, but their wings are all brown, and the call is "poor-will."

Taxonomy: Caprimulgiformes, Caprimulgidae, Chordeilinae.

Favored Habitat: Open desert.

Where to Find: Out in the desert. Nighthawks fly at dusk, usually quite close to the ground (below shrub level).

Comments: Lesser Nighthawks usually sleep during the day on the ground.