Lesser Nighthawk vs Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Chordeiles acutipennis compared with Amazilia tzacatl

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lesser Nighthawk	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Caprimulgiformes (Caprimulgiformes)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Caprimulgidae	Trochilidae
Genus	Chordeiles	Amazilia
Species	Chordeiles acutipennis	Amazilia tzacatl

Evolutionary Relationship

Lesser Nighthawk and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Lesser Nighthawk

LC — Least Concern

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lesser Nighthawk	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Lesser Nighthawk

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Lesser Nighthawk

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

One of the most common hummingbirds in Central America and northwestern South America, rufous-tailed hummingbirds are medium-sized with green upper parts and a diagnostic bright rufous-orange tail. Found from Mexico to Ecuador and Trinidad in a wide range of habitats including forest edges, gardens, plantations, and secondary growth from sea level to 2,100 meters. Aggressive territory defenders at feeders and flowering plants, they are frequently seen in gardens across their range. Listed as Least Concern.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway 🇻🇪 Venezuela