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The species Jamaican Pauraque is possibly extinct. |
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Alternative name: Jamaican Poorwill
- Siphonorhis americana
Identification
23-25 cm. Marginally sexually dimorphic.
- Rufous-brown upperparts, blackish-brown streaked
- Broadly blackish streaked crown
- Indistinct buffish nuchal collar
- Rufous-brown wing-coverts with distinctive blackish-brown markings and small, brown-centred, pale buff spots
- Large white throat patch
- Rufous-brown underparts, boldly spotted whitish on upper belly, becoming buff barred brown towards tail
- No white markings on wings
Distribution
Endemic to Jamaica.
No definitve records since 1860, known only from four museum specimens. Possible recent sightings from Milk River and Hellshire Hills. Habitat loss and introduction of mongooses and rats have possibly all contributed to the decline of this species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Formerly considered conspecific with Least Pauraque.
Habitat
Not well known, possibly dry limestone forest, open country and semi-arid woodland.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds probably on insects.
Breeding
No information available.
Movements
Nothing known.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Jamaican Pauraque. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Jamaican_Pauraque
