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Mandatory assignment in WILD 420
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Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)Introductory Paragraph
The lesser nighthawks (Chordeiles acutipennis) belong to the nightjar family of birds. In
appearance, they bear a striking resemblance to their relatives, the common nighthawks, but their
habitat primarily encompasses arid and dry regions. What truly distinguishes these remarkable
creatures is their distinctive mouths, perfectly adapted for capturing insects mid-flight.
Nighthawks are a fascinating addition to the order of birds that may share certain similarities
with owls, yet their distinctive reproductive and vocalization methods set them apart..
Description
Lesser nighthawks are known for their large mouths and small feet. Their natural brown and gray
colours seamlessly blend into their surroundings, making them challenging to spot in the daytime
while they sleep. This long-winged and long-tailed species exhibit slight differences between the
male and female. Male lesser nighthawks have a prominent white bar at the end of their tails and
wing tips while females have a more cream colour bar on their wing tips and lack the stripe on
their tail. Both males and females feature a white v-shaped mark on their neck. Although their
mouths are large, lesser nighthawks insectivorous beaks are short and curved.
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Genus: Chordeiles
Species: acutipennis
The order Caprimulgiformes resemblance owls and is primarily composed of nocturnal
insectivores. This group often have reduced feet, large mouths, and a camouflage colouring to
blend in with their environment. The family Caprimulgidae, also known as nightjars, consists of
over 70 insectivorous birds which are commonly classified by their long pointed wings. Their
habitat and distribution is very broad range. Lesser nighthawks belong to the Chordeiles genus
which contains 6 other species of nighthawk such as the common nighthawk, antillean
nighthawk, and sand-coloured nighthawk. The classification of nightjars are constantly being
changed and renewed in attempt to group species with their closest relation.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to southern North America, lesser nighthawks inhabit regions of arid, dry deserts or
grasslands. Unlike common nighthawks, they show a preference to open, drier habitats with
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