Lesser Nighthawks

Katrina Smits

Jul 22, 2025

Their song and call are so different. Very graceful birds!

Their sky dancing is mesmerizing.

Great post Dan. We once saw a lesser night hawk sitting on eggs in the gravel at the edge of the parking lot at Canoa Ranch....(I probably made the same comment on your earlier post--it was memorable!)

What a remarkable sighting!! That must have been very special for you.

Pictures are beautiful. I have not seen these before. And wings do sometimes look like boomerangs.

thank you Sharon

Thanks for the great post

thanks Randy

Thanks again Dan for another amazing post. I was wondering if you could help me identify another bird that starts flying at dusk but the sound they make is almost frighting (to me anyway) it's sounds to me almost like a growl, I'm assuming it's the birds flying overhead and I've only heard it when we are hiking out of my favorite hike in Strawberry Lake in Utah.

Thanks again for sharing your talent and information.

Dela, I think what you might be hearing at Strawberry Lake is the Common Nighthawk. You can read about them and listen to their calls at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Nighthawk/overview

Just took a look at all the Lesser Nighthawk shots you have shared and congratulate you on a remarkable documentation of a seldom seen species. Thanks for putting the time, talent and energy into sharing. So glad you love to teach!

Thank you very much Sally!!

Superb work. Congratulations!

Thanks!!

They stop by our pool each night sunset to get a drink. Strange they don't build a nest for eggs.

You have nice guests! There are a number of birds that don't build nests like Killdeer, Prairie Falcons, etc. It is strange since we've learned all our lives that "birds build nests". To me, it is stunning that these nighthawks do so on the ground during Tucson's blazing hot summers.

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