Bahian Nighthawk
Nyctiprogne vielliardi
Distinctive chestnut nighthawk, lacking white marks on either the tail or wings, and barred below. Found in caatinga woodland along rivers across a restricted distribution. The song is a double-noted "whuip-purr." In flight, gives a “whip" call.
Identification
Once a plain-tailed nighthawk is fully grown, their plumage is dark with brown, the long upper-wings are black, it has gray and white in its upper parts and breast but the characteristic that distinguishes it from the band-tailed nighthawk is that its tail is black without
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Nyctiprogne vielliardi
- Authority
- (Lencioni-Neto, 1994)
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Nyctiprogne
Range and habitat
The Plain-tailed Nighthawks are only found in Brazil in only two currently known localities. One runs along the rio São Francisco and immediately adjacent tributaries in Bahia and in the state of Minas Gerais which are in central Brazil.<p>The Plain-tailed nighthawk can be classified as near threatened due to loss of riverine forest and scum which lie within its small range..
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
There is not much information about the Plain-tailed nighthawk because it is a newly identified species but it is known that they are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal (active at night) and they sleep on the ground where they can easily camouflage.<p>They have been observed above the river in flocks of up to 20 individuals during dusk hours.<p>A plain-tailed nighthawks diet consists mainly of insects which it finds in swarms. It also can catch a drink a water by swooping down slowly on a surface of water. [1]<p>To attract females, the male Plain-tailed nighthawk sings. He also sings after he has marked his territory in order to protect it from intruders.<p>The Plain-tailed nighthawk does not construct nests but instead it lays its eggs in an unlined depression on the ground. They may lay about one to two eggs, but primarily two, that are a white/creamy color with dark colored spots in order to better camouflage with the ground. The female incubates the eggs during the day while both parents incubate it at night for approximately 19 to 21 days. The male is primarily in charge of protecting the nest from any predators or other intruders. the parents feed the chicks mainly insects until they are able to leave the nest in about 20 to 21 days.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Mountain Yellow-Warbler
Iduna similis
Medium-sized, long-tailed, long-billed warbler. The back is olive-green and the underparts yellow. Found in montane habitats including bamboo, moist scrub, and forest edge. An active and energetic bird of the undergrowth. The distinctive song is an exuberant mix of downslurred and upslurred whistles and low rattles. Similar to African Yellow-Warbler, but in the areas where they overlap, mostly found at higher elevations, and distinguished by the olive-green, not black cap.
Little Pied Cormorant
Microcarbo melanoleucos
Small black and white cormorant with stubby yellow bill. In most of range has completely white undersides, lacking black "trousers." In New Zealand underparts coloration more variable, and can be anywhere from white to mostly black with a white throat and face. Take care to identify from Pied Cormorant, which has a long ivory bill and contrasting black “trousers” on the flanks near the legs. Found in a wide range of watery habitats, including small ponds, creeks, and dams.
Pipipi
Mohoua novaeseelandiae
A small, noisy songbird endemic to New Zealand, found on the South and Stewart Islands. Favors myriad forest types. Note brown upperparts with an ashy-gray face and neck, and pale creamy-brown underparts. Often located first by its harsh chattering contact calls and canary-like song. Forms fast-moving flocks in the canopy that will come down to investigate “squeaking.” Associates with other species such as Silvereye and Gray Gerygone in the non-breeding season, forming noisy, continuously chattering flocks. Pipipi is the main host of the parasitic Long-tailed Koel, and so adults can be encountered feeding a much larger Koel chick. Distinguished from Dunnock by lighter underparts; does not feed on the ground. Look for sharp contrast between gray face and lighter underparts and larger size to distinguish from Gray Gerygone.
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