Least nighthawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Least nighthawk |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Chordeiles |
| Species: |
C. pusillus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chordeiles pusillus Gould, 1861
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The least nighthawk (Chordeiles pusillus) is a small bird. It belongs to the nightjar family, which are birds active at dawn and dusk. You can find this bird in several countries in South America. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Contents
About Its Name and Family
Scientists group living things to understand them better. The least nighthawk is part of a bird family called Caprimulgidae. These birds are often called nightjars. For a while, this bird had its own special group name, Nannochordeiles. But now, scientists agree it belongs with other birds in the Chordeiles group.
There are six known types, or subspecies, of the least nighthawk. These different types have slight differences in their looks or where they live.
- C. p. septentrionalis
- C. p. esmeraldae
- C. p. xerophilus
- C. p. novaesi
- C. p. saturatus
- C. p. pucillis
Scientists are still studying if two birds found in Argentina might be a seventh type.
What Does It Look Like?
The least nighthawk is a very small bird. It is about 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches) long. This makes it one of the smallest birds in its family. Two female birds weighed about 28 to 33 grams (1 to 1.2 ounces). That's about the weight of a few paper clips!
Its feathers are mostly brown on top. They have spots of gray, reddish-brown, and light yellowish-brown. Its belly is whitish or light yellowish-brown with brown stripes. It has a small white patch on its throat. When it flies, you can see a clear white band on its outer wing feathers. Male birds also have white tips on some other wing feathers. The different types of least nighthawks can vary in size and color. They also have different amounts of stripes on their bellies.
Where It Lives and Its Home
The six types of least nighthawk live in different parts of South America.
- C. p. septentrionalis lives from eastern Colombia to northern Venezuela, Guyana, western Suriname, and northern Brazil.
- C. p. esmeraldae is found in southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, and the very northwest of Brazil.
- C. p. xerophilus lives in the far northeastern states of Paraíba and Pernambuco in Brazil.
- C. p. novaesi is found in the northeastern Brazilian states of Maranhão and Piauí.
- C. p. saturatus lives in west-central Brazil (southeastern Amazonas, southwestern Pará, and western Mato Grosso) and the far east of Bolivia.
- C. p. pucillis is found in the eastern Brazilian states of Tocantins, Bahia, and Goiás.
The least nighthawk usually lives in open areas. These can be savannas or subtropical grasslands. It lives in places called cerrado (a type of savanna) and caatinga (a dry forest). It can be found from sea level up to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high.
Behavior
Movement
Some groups of least nighthawks might travel to different places during the year. This is called migration. However, scientists are still studying this to be sure.
Feeding Habits
The least nighthawk eats insects while flying. It catches many different kinds of insects in the air. It usually hunts at dawn and late in the evening. It tends to fly close to the ground while hunting. These birds hunt alone, in pairs, or in small, loose groups. Their flight is often described as light, fast, and unpredictable. They make many sudden turns.
Reproduction
Scientists do not know much about how the least nighthawk reproduces. The time of year they lay eggs seems to change depending on where they live. They lay just one egg directly on the ground.
Vocalization
The least nighthawk makes different sounds. Its call while flying has been described as a low churr or a weak, nasal beep or week. Some say it sounds like a short, sharp whit or bit. When it sings from the ground or a bush, it makes a fast cur-cur-cur-curry sound.
Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the least nighthawk. They have decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It lives in a very large area, and its population seems to be stable. Scientists have not found any major threats to this bird.
 | Ernest Everett Just |
 | Mary Jackson |
 | Emmett Chappelle |
 | Marie Maynard Daly |
