The adult male has a white throat; the female has a light brown throat. The most distinguishing characteristic to determine its identity from its closest relative the common nighthawk are the contrasting pale tertials near the back of the wings of a sitting bird.
The adult male has a white throat; the female has a light brown throat. The most distinctive feature for identifying this bird from its closest relative, the common nighthawk, is the contrasting pale tertials near the back of the wings when it is perched.