Least Pauraque
Siphonorhis brewsteri
A nocturnal inhabitant of open arid woodlands and thornscrub. Perches on ground from which it makes floppy and erratic flight upon its long wings in pursuit of insects. During the day it nestles in shaded leaf litter, wherein its cryptic coloration hides it well. Both the Hispaniolan Nightjar and Chuck-wills-widow are considerably larger, darker, and lack the Least Pauraque’s white terminal tail band. Calls include a low scratchy “wuck-wuck-wuck-wuck,” a low-pitched rising and trilled “tooooooeeeeeee,” and a similarly low-pitched trilled “oo-weee-oo,” with emphasis on middle syllable. The calls of the Hispaniolan Nightjar is a lower pitched “toooooeeeeeo.”
Identification
The least poorwill is 17 to 21.5 cm (6.7 to 8.5 in) long. The nominate subspecies' upperparts are grayish brown with blackish streaks and the folded wing shows bold white spots. It has a wide buff collar on the hindneck. The breast is dark brown with white spots and the belly white with brown bars and vermiculation. All but the central tail feathers have narrow pale tips, white in the male and buff in the female. S. b. gonavensis is thought to be smaller and paler overall.
Taxonomy
The least poorwill was previously considered conspecific with the Jamaican poorwill (Siphonorhis americana), which is now believed to be extinct. It has two subspecies, the nominate S. b. brewsteri and S. b. gonavensis.
- Scientific name
- Siphonorhis brewsteri
- Authority
- (Chapman, 1917)
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Siphonorhis
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of least poorwill is found in the central and western parts of the Dominican Republic, especially Pedernales, Independencia, and Barahona Provinces, and adjoining Ouest Department in Haiti. S. b. gonavensis is found only on Haiti's Ile de la Gonâve. The species is thought to be generally rare, although it can be locally common, and is possibly under-reported. Recorded sightings are most common in the Dominican Republic, with very few in Haiti.<p>The least poorwill inhabits arid to semi-arid landscapes such as limestone woodland and areas of cactus and thorn scrub. It also occurs in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Little is known about the least poorwill's feeding behavior and diet, though the latter is believed to be insects.<p>The least poorwill is believed to breed between April and June. One clutch of two eggs was laid directly on the ground with no nest.<p>The male least poorwill's song is "a whistled 'toorrrrri' rising in pitch, or a warbled 'tworrri'." The species also makes "short, whistled 'toorric' or 'to-ic'" calls and "dove-like scratchy sounds".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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