From Opus

Photo by arthurgrosset
Location: Linhares, Espirito Santo, Brazil
Male above; female below

Alternative name: Common Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

[edit] Identification

22–28cm long. Male white band near wing tips, white outer tail feathers. Female - narrower wing band. Long tail, rounded wings. Buff eyering and facial stripe.

The male (top photo) has a broad white band across the outermost primaries which is especially evident when flying. It also has white along the sides of the tail. These are lacking in the female (bottom photo).

At rest, separated from most other species by the combination of the double row of buff-edged black spots over the scapulars, the relatively uniform rufous cheeks, and the relatively long tail that extends far out beyond the wing-tips.

[edit] Distribution

From south Texas and Mexico through Central America and South America to northern Argentina.

[edit] Taxonomy

It is the only bird in the genus Nyctidromus. Seven subspecies are recognized: albicollis, insularis, yucatanensis, merrilli, intercedens, gilvus, and derbyanus.

[edit] Habitat

Woodland habitats, preferably forest, but also scrub and cultivation.

[edit] Behaviour

2 pinkish eggs are laid on bare ground or leaf litter.

Nocturnal.

Diet includes insects caught in flight or foraging.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156

[edit] External Links