Birds · La Saladita, Guerrero

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Spanish: Chotacabras menor

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
Photographed by santiagob1986 on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The lesser nighthawk 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. Most often recorded in Jan, Dec, Oct, Sep.

TaxonomyAves › Caprimulgiformes › Caprimulgidae
Local records7 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records6,348 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2018 – 2025
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Birds guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/chordeiles-acutipennis/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.