A long-winged and long-tailed nighthawk with rounded wings. Males have white bar across the wingtips (farther out on the wings that the similar Common Nighthawk) and a white band across the tail.
Lesser Nighthawks roost motionless on the ground or in trees and shrubs during the day.
Lesser Nighthawks are cryptically-colored in browns and grays and easily blend in with their surroundings.
Females have a smaller cream-colored band across the wingtips and lack the male's band across the tail.
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Lesser Nighthawks are small nighthawks with rounded wings and a fairly long, notched tail. In flight they look long and slim, but when perched they look rather full-bodied with a small, flat head. They have a very small, thin bill that is nearly invisible and tiny legs.
Larger than a Violet-green Swallow, smaller than a Barn Owl.
between robin and crowNightjars and Allies(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Caprimulgidae)
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