Lesser nighthawk

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Lesser nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis - Lesser Nighthawk.jpg
ChordeilesAcutipennisEggs.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Genus: Chordeiles
Species:
C. acutipennis
Binomial name
Chordeiles acutipennis
(Hermann, 1783)
Chordeiles acutipennis map.svg
Range map of Chordeiles acutipennis
  Nonbreeding
  Breeding
  Migration
  Year-round

The lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) 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. [2] [3]

Description

The lesser nighthawk is known for its large mouth and small feet. Its natural brown and gray colors blend into its surroundings, making it hard to spot in the daytime while it sleeps. This long-winged and long-tailed species exhibits slight differences between the male and female. Male lesser nighthawks have a prominent white bar at the end of their tails and wing tips while females have a more cream color bar on their wing tips and lack the stripe on their tail. Both males and females feature a white v-shaped mark on their neck. Although its mouth is large, the lesser nighthawk's beak is short and curved. [3]

Taxonomy

Birds of the order Caprimulgiformes resemble owls and are primarily nocturnal insectivores. This group often has reduced feet, large mouths, and a camouflage coloring to blend in with their environment. [4] The family Caprimulgidae, also known as nightjars, consists of over 70 insectivorous birds which are commonly classified by their long pointed wings. Their habitat and distribution is very broad range. [5] Lesser nighthawks belong to the Chordeiles genus which contains 6 other species of nighthawk such as the common nighthawk, Antillean nighthawk, and sand-coloured nighthawk. The classification of nightjars are constantly being changed and renewed in attempt to group species with their closest relation. [6]

Habitat and distribution

Native to southern North America, the lesser nighthawk inhabits regions of arid, dry deserts or grasslands. Unlike the common nighthawk, it shows a preference to open, drier habitats with lower elevation. [3] It typically chooses habitats that have large swarms of insects as that is its primary food source. It migrates in the fall and spends winters around southern Central America and northern South America. The lesser nighthawk will then return back to the southern United States for spring and summer to breed. [2]

Behavior

Vocalization

The lesser nighthawk is very similar to its relative, the common nighthawk, though it tends to be a much quieter bird. The bird usually maintains a quiet demeanor, and it is quite rare to encounter its distinctive whines or trilling calls outside of its breeding grounds. [7] Its toadlike trills can be sung in sequences lasting 7-13 seconds and can extend to over 3 minutes. Its calls sound like a low, gurgled laugh. [8]

Diet

The lesser nighthawk is predominately a nocturnal insectivore that captures prey in flight. Despite its relatively small bill, it possesses a broad mouth equipped with fine hairs that aid in trapping its food. [3] Its diet primarily consists of flies, mosquitoes, moths, and June bugs. [9] The lesser nighthawk is an opportunistic feeder, meaning they can adapt to a diverse range of food sources, readily adjusting to the available prey. Nighthawks typically target the most abundant and easily captured prey. Depending on the season, they may forage individually or in groups. [2]

Reproduction

During courtship, the male engages in an elaborate aerial display, circling the female with his throat puffed out while emitting a trilling call. [3] Female nighthawks do not build nests; instead, they lay their eggs directly on the ground. To shield their eggs from potential predators, the females rely on their natural camouflage. [2] Living in warm, desert areas means that the female must not leave her eggs in one spot in the heat for too long, therefore, she will periodically move her eggs by rolling them into areas with shade. The female nighthawk will lay 2 clay colored eggs with gray-purple spots coating them. [2] The incubation period spans about 18 days, and the nestling phase continues for 21 days. [3] Both parents contribute with feeding their young by regurgitating food into their mouths. Once hatched, the nestlings quickly gain mobility, allowing them to move short distances in case of predator disturbance. [2]

In culture

Nightjars are also known as "goatsuckers" based on an ancient Greek myth. They are believed to use their wide mouths to suck goats milk. [4]

Conservation status

The lesser nighthawk is of least concern with regards to its conservation status. Climate change will affect the range of the nighthawk, however. [3]

Adaptations

The lesser nighthawk has developed the ability to endure extreme ranges of temperature. [10] When faced in severe heat, the nighthawk utilizes a trait known as gular fluttering. The action involves quick throat vibrations that effectively pump air into their system, resulting in a cooling effect for the bird. [11] This adaptation is crucial for females as they often choose to breed in the hot deserts, where they remain exposed to the intense sun while tending to their nests.

Flight

The lesser nighthawk typically flies low to the ground. This method of flight helps in capturing insects that tend to swarm around lights at night. The bird's buoyant wings carry them in flight in a V-shape with short glides or flutters similar that of a butterfly. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightjar</span> Family of birds

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tale that they sucked the milk from goats, or bugeaters, their primary source of food being insects. Some New World species are called nighthawks. The English word "nightjar" originally referred to the European nightjar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European nightjar</span> Migratory bird found in Eurasia and Africa

The European nightjar, common goatsucker, Eurasian nightjar or just nightjar, is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird in the nightjar family that breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic to Mongolia and Northwestern China. The Latin generic name refers to the old myth that the nocturnal nightjar suckled from goats, causing them to cease to give milk. The six subspecies differ clinally, the birds becoming smaller and paler towards the east of the range. All populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Their densely patterned grey and brown plumage makes individuals difficult to see in the daytime when they rest on the ground or perch motionless along a branch, although the male shows white patches in the wings and tail as he flies at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nighthawk</span> Subfamily of birds

The nighthawk is a nocturnal bird of the subfamily Chordeilinae, within the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae, native to the western hemisphere. The term "nighthawk", first recorded in the King James Bible of 1611, was originally a local name in England for the European nightjar. Its use in the Americas to refer to members of the genus Chordeiles and related genera was first recorded in 1778.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potoo</span> Family of nocturnal birds of tropical Central and South America

Potoos are a group of birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are sometimes called poor-me-ones, after their haunting calls. The family Nyctibiidae was formerly included with the nightjars in the order Caprimulgiformes but is now placed in a separate order, Nyctibiiformes. There are seven species in two genera in tropical Central and South America. Fossil evidence indicates that they also inhabited Europe during the Paleogene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common nighthawk</span> Species of bird

The common nighthawk or bullbat is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the Americas within the nightjar (Caprimulgidae) family, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark, displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird is difficult to spot with the naked eye during the day. This bird is most conspicuous when in its buoyant and erratic flight. The most remarkable feature of this aerial insectivore is its small beak that belies the massiveness of its mouth. Some claim appearance similarities to owls. With its horizontal stance and short legs, the common nighthawk does not travel frequently on the ground, instead preferring to perch horizontally, parallel to branches, on posts, on the ground or on a roof. The males of this species may roost together but the bird is primarily solitary. The common nighthawk shows variability in territory size.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerdon's nightjar</span> Species of bird

Jerdon's nightjar is a medium-sized nightjar species native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Formerly considered as a subspecies of the long-tailed nightjar, it is best recognized by its distinctive call which sounds like a wooden plank being beaten periodically with each note ending in a quaver. The common name commemorates Thomas C. Jerdon who described the species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eared nightjar</span> Subfamily of birds

The eared nightjars are a small group of nocturnal birds in the nightjar family, although the taxonomy is uncertain. There are seven species, mainly found in forest and scrub from China to Australia. Five species are placed in the genus Eurostopodus, the other two species in Lyncornis. They are long winged birds with plumage patterned with grey and brown to camouflage them when resting on the ground. They feed on insects caught in flight. A single white egg is laid directly on the ground and incubated by both adults. The chicks can walk soon after hatching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery-necked nightjar</span> Species of bird

The fiery-necked nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae, which is found mostly in Africa south of the equator, though it has been spotted in a few countries north of the equator. It is most often found in woodland savannas or other deciduous woodlands. It is usually distinguished by its tawny coloured collar which gives the species its common name. It has a distinctive call that many have rendered as 'good-lord-deliver-us'. The fiery-necked nightjar is an insectivorous species that mostly eats butterflies, moths and other insects. The fiery-necked nightjar breeds after the dry season and typically produce two clutches with two eggs per clutch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-cheeked nightjar</span> Species of bird

The rufous-cheeked nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is an intra-African migrant that breeds in the south of its range. It spends the non-breeding season in eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, southern Chad and Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, the D.R.C. and western Central African Republic. Throughout the year it can be found in Southern Africa. It is a nocturnal species that feeds on flying insects, mainly hunting at dusk and the early night. They can hunt at night thanks to their large eyes that are adept at seeing in the dark. They cannot see in complete darkness and most likely cannot see colours either. The rufous-cheeked nightjar forms monogamous pairs and the egg laying period is from September to November. It looks very similar to other African nightjars and they are frequently misidentified during research and studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky nightjar</span> Species of bird

The dusky nightjar or dusky whip-poor-will is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Least nighthawk</span> Species of bird

The least nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sand-coloured nighthawk</span> Species of bird

The sand-colored nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sickle-winged nightjar</span> Species of bird

The sickle-winged nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and possibly Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted nightjar</span> Species of bird

The spotted nightjar or spotted eared-nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It inhabits much of mainland Australia and has also been found in several Indonesian islands. Its natural habitats are open forests and woodlands, scrub, spinifex and tussock grassland, savannah woodland and mangroves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plain-tailed nighthawk</span> Species of bird

The plain-tailed nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss. The Plain-tailed was given its name due to the lack of bands on its tail. Other names it was given include "Bahia Nighthawk" and "Caatinga Nighthawk" although not completely inappropriate due to the fact that they are not only found specifically in those areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nacunda nighthawk</span> Species of bird

The nacunda nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Chordeiles acutipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22689711A93243940. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689711A93243940.en . Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Lesser Nighthawk | Audubon Field Guide". www.audubon.org. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Lesser Nighthawk: Life History". All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Caprimulgidae | Nocturnal, Insectivorous, Neotropical | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Nightjar | Nocturnal, Migratory, Camouflage | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Sigurðsson, S.; Cracraft, J. (2014). "Deciphering the diversity and history of new world nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) using molecular phylogenetics". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 170 (3): 506–545. doi:10.1111/zoj.12109. S2CID   83529439.
  7. ↑ Miller, A. H. (1937). "The nuptial flight of the Texas Nighthawk". Condor. 39: 42–43.
  8. ↑ Howell, S. N. G.; Webb, S. (1995). A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0198540120.
  9. ↑ "Lesser Nighthawk: Chordeiles acutipennis" . Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Marshall, J. T. Jr. (1955). "Hibernation in captive goatsuckers". Condor. 57: 129–134. doi:10.2307/1364860. JSTOR   1364860.
  11. ↑ Austin, G. T. (1970). "Experimental hypothermia in a Lesser Nighthawk". Auk. 93: 245–262.
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