What‘s that Bird?: Lesser Nighthawk

Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest.

 

For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.

 

Show Notes:Song provided by Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, recorded by Rich Hoyer

 

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Transcript

Host voice - Welcome to the Feathered Desert’s What’s That Bird? A three-minute glimpse into the birds that we share this amazing desert landscape with.

 

Kiersten - The lesser nighthawk is in the nightjar family and is found in the desert SW of Arizona during spring and summer. It overwinters in Mexico and Central America. The lesser nighthawk is a crepuscular bird, hunting for insects on the wing during sunset and sunrise and occasionally at night during full moons. They are 8 to 9 inches in length, are mottled brown, gray, and black in coloration on most of their body. A white throat stripe and wide, white wing bands distinguish them in flight. The beak is small but opens wide to catch insects. Semibristles which are specialized sensory feathers with a stiff central shaft and barbs at the base grow near the nighthawk’s mouth to help it sense and catch insects. They are often referred to as “flying cigars.”

 

When you hear this call (Lesser Nighthawk call plays) you know you have lesser nighthawks swooping and diving to catch insects such as mosquitos, beetles, moths and grasshoppers near you. They hunt most often near ponds and along desert washes. During the day they roost on the ground in the shade of small shrubs where their mottled coloration blends them seamlessly into the background. During breeding season, they also make their nests on the ground using only small pebbles to keep their eggs steady during incubation.

 

Lesser nighthawks are attracted to yards with abundant insect activity. Planting native trees, shrubs , and flowers to increase good insect activity very well may bring the Lesser Nighthawk to your yard.

 

            This is what’s that bird?. Bird Song Provided by Macauly Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recorded by Rich Hoyer.