Tschudi's Nightjar
Quechuavis decussata
Fairly common but nocturnal bird of lowland desert with scattered low bushes and agricultural areas with hedges and brush. Sleeps during the day on the ground or on a low shady perch; when flushed flies with quick stiff wingbeats and short glides. Note the broad rounded wings and snappy flight style, unlike pointed wings and erratic flight of Lesser Nighthawk, which occurs in the same areas. At night hunts from ground and low perches. Like all nightjars, may be located at night by brilliant amber eyeshine reflected in light beams.
Identification
Tschudi's nightjar is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long. Males weigh 28.5 to 35 g (1.0 to 1.2 oz) and females about 32 g (1.1 oz). It is overall grayish brown with blackish speckles. The male has a broad tawny or cinnamon collar on the hindneck, a small white patch on the throat, white bands on the wing, and white bands and tips on the tail. The female's throat is buff, the bands on the wing are buff, and the tail usually has no white.
Taxonomy
Tschudi's nightjar was originally considered a species, then a subspecies of band-winged nightjar (Systellura longirostris), and since 2016 again is treated as a species. It also was assigned for a time to genus Caprimulgus. Its current position in genus Systella is not completely resolved; it shares the genus with the band-winged nightjar but does not seem to be closely related to it. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Quechuavis decussata
- Authority
- (Tschudi, 1844)
- Order
- Cariamiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Quechuavis
Range and habitat
Tschudi's nightjar is found along most of western Peru and extreme northern Chile. It inhabits the littoral and foothills in this arid landscape. It generally keeps to open country, clearings, and wooded edges though it is also found in urban areas including Lima, Peru. In Peru it ranges from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft) but has been reported as high as 3,350 m (11,000 ft) in Chile.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Nothing is known about Tschudi's nightjar's diet or feeding behavior.<p>The breeding season of Tschudi's nightjar is thought to be from November or earlier to January. Essentially nothing else is known about its breeding phenology.<p>Tschudi's nightjar's song is "a loud series of well-defined, but slightly buzzy 'cueeo' notes". Its alarm call is "a slightly squeaky-sounding 'wick'".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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