Lesser Nighthawk or Common Nighthawk, Baker City CA (1 Viewer)

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notesfromtheroad

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #1

A friend posted this on social media, not knowing what it was. It looks like a Common Nighthawk to me, but the photo is from Baker City, where Lesser Nighthawks are more common, I believe. Can anybody help me with any fieldmarks that could call this one way or the other? Thanks!

 

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njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Sep 3, 2014

• #2

Look here and especially at the 5th reference: http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Nighthawk

Niels

 

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DarkFireFalcon

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #3

I'm having trouble finding Baker City, CA. Do you mean Baker City, OR? There is a Baker, CA, but it's a town that barely exists in the middle of the Mojave Desert that no one would ever call a city..

 

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notesfromtheroad

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #4

DarkFireFalcon - it may be Oregon, obviously that makes a big difference. I'll find out.

NJLarson - thank you. Based on the birdforum reference, I will go with Common Nighthawk based on the following, but I may be wrong.

The tertials seem very long on this bird, which makes the bird feel longer than the stout lesser nighthawk. In the birdforum reference, the wing patch appears shorter than the tertials.

The buff spots in this photo seem muted (and that may be because of the shadow) but in photos of the Lesser, they seem more like big squares.

Also, pending location will help...

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Sep 3, 2014

• #5

It probably doesn't need to be said, but location shouldn't be completely used to rule out these two species in the (unlikely) event of the opposite species turning up as a vagrant. Especially since these two can generally be separated from photo details, unlike certain pairs (*cough CordilleranPacificslopeflycatcher cough*).

 

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notesfromtheroad

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #6

Its Baker City, Oregon...my error, not California. And you are right, I think the wrong location made me and others spend more time on the ID (and I learned more about differentiating)...still, Common Nighthawk?

 

Tiraya

San Diego CA

• Sep 3, 2014

• #7

From what can be seen of primary length, I'd say common is the better option.