Photo: Steve Ryan from Groveland, CA, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sand-colored Nighthawk
Chordeiles rupestris
Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 52.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Chordeiles
- Species rupestris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.3 g, with a wing length of about 16.5 cm and a tail of around 8.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sand-colored Nighthawk?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.3 g.
Where does the Sand-colored Nighthawk live?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sand-colored Nighthawk belong to?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Sand-colored Nighthawk eat?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sand-colored Nighthawk migrate?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Sand-colored Nighthawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sand-colored Nighthawk make?
1 real field recording of the Sand-colored Nighthawk — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sand-colored Nighthawk's range?
The Sand-colored Nighthawk has a mapped global range of about 1.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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