The least nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
South America
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily across northern and central South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northern Argentina. It favors open, dry landscapes such as savannas, cerrado, caatinga scrub, grasslands, and lightly grazed pastures. Birds often use sandy or gravelly flats and sparsely vegetated ground for roosting and nesting. It may also forage over river edges, airstrips, and roads at dusk when insects concentrate. Local seasonal movements likely track rainfall and insect abundance, but long-distance migration is not typical.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The least nighthawk is a small, crepuscular nightjar that hunts insects on the wing over open habitats. Its cryptic, mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage when it roosts on the ground during the day. It typically lays its eggs directly on bare ground without a constructed nest. Like other nighthawks, it has a wide gape fringed with bristles that helps it scoop flying insects.
Temperament
solitary and cryptic
Flight Pattern
buoyant, with quick, erratic wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in loose, small groups at foraging sites around dusk. Nests directly on bare ground or open soil with minimal to no nest structure. Likely forms monogamous pairs during the breeding season, with the female incubating and both parents tending the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, including low churring trills and short chittering notes given at dusk and dawn. Calls are often delivered during aerial foraging or from a low perch on the ground.
