The Least Nighthawk is the smallest of the nighthawks, a tiny, agile bird of the open grasslands and savannas of South America. Its diminutive size makes it a challenging but rewarding sighting.
Where to spot
Found across South America, primarily in dry, open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, and pastures, often near thorny scrub or scattered trees.
How to spot
Spotting this tiny nighthawk requires patience. Look for its quick, erratic flight over open ground. Listen for its soft, 'chuck' call, especially as it flies at twilight.
When to spot
Most active at dusk and dawn, when it forages for small insects. It can occasionally be seen in flight during overcast days or early mornings.
Where to spot
Found across South America, primarily in dry, open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, and pastures, often near thorny scrub or scattered trees.
How to spot
Spotting this tiny nighthawk requires patience. Look for its quick, erratic flight over open ground. Listen for its soft, 'chuck' call, especially as it flies at twilight.
When to spot
Most active at dusk and dawn, when it forages for small insects. It can occasionally be seen in flight during overcast days or early mornings.
As its name suggests, it is the smallest known species of nighthawk, making its swift and erratic flight even more impressive.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Essential cookies are necessary for basic functionality, while analytical cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it.
Cookie Preferences
Customize your privacy settings
Choose which cookies you want to allow. Necessary cookies are always enabled for the basic functionality of the website. You can always change your preferences later via the cookie settings in the footer.
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies
Help us understand how visitors use our website, so we can improve it.