The Lesser Nighthawk is a resident of the Santa Rita Mountains, and indeed one you will have to look for either in the early morning before the sun rises, or at dusk in the evening.
The Lesser Nighthawk is a medium-sized nightjar. The upperbody is gray with white mottling. The throat is white, while the underside is brown with white mottling. Their wings are dark colored, with pale patches visible when they are in flight. The dark brown tail has narrow white bars.
The Lesser Nighthawk catches insects mid-flight, sometimes using street lights to their advantage when insects buzz around the light. It is not uncommon for them to defend their nests by swooping down on offenders. Even the young defend themselves as best as they can. By opening their mouths wide and lifting their wings, they hope to scare of potential threats by looking larger and more fierce than they really are.
Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999
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