Blackish Nightjar
Nyctipolus nigrescens
A fairly small, dark nightjar found in the lowlands and foothills of northern South America. Intricately patterned with dark browns and grays; lacks any obvious features like a collar (although it sometimes shows a small white patch on the side of the neck). Males have small white corners on the tail. Almost always found at a landslide or rocky slope at the forest edge or in clearings, singly or in pairs. Most often detected at dawn and dusk, when it gives a burry “peer!” song and “pip” calls.
Identification
The blackish nightjar is 19.5 to 21.5 cm (7.7 to 8.5 in) long and weighs 32 to 39 g (1.1 to 1.4 oz). Its upperparts are blackish brown with tawny, grayish white, and cinnamon spots. Its tail is dark brown with indistinct lighter bars and mottling and (on the male) a white tip. The underparts to the belly are dark brown with paler baring; the belly and flanks are buffy with darker barring. The throat has a small white patch on either side. In flight the wing shows a small white band.
Taxonomy
The blackish nightjar was originally placed in genus Caprimulgus, but DNA analyses show that it and its sister species pygmy nightjar (Nyctipolus hirundinaceus) require their own genus. The blackish nightjar is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Nyctipolus nigrescens
- Authority
- (Cabanis, 1849)
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Nyctipolus
Range and habitat
The blackish nightjar is found east of the Andes in Peru, Ecuador, and southern Colombia, and across southern Colombia through southern Venezuela and the Guianas into northeastern and north-central Brazil. They inhabit lowland evergreen forest, but are mostly found on or near open rock outcroppings or on sand and gravel bars along small rivers. In elevation it ranges from sea level in Brazil to 900 m (3,000 ft) in Bolivia, 800 m (2,600 ft) in Colombia, 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in Ecuador, and 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in Venezuela.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The blackish nightjar is crepuscular and nocturnal. It forages on the wing from dusk to dawn over rock outcrops and above the forest canopy. It has also been recorded on foot picking prey from large rocks. Its diet has not been detailed but is known to include moths and beetles. During the day it roosts on rocks or fallen trees.<p>The blackish nightjar's breeding season varies across its range but almost everywhere is during the long dry season of August to November. Males display to females by erecting the tail to show the white markings. Females lay a single egg, usually in a depression in bare rock though occasionally on bare sand or soil. They nest singly or sometimes in small loose colonies.<p>The blackish nightjar's song is short, "a soft, purring pu'r'r'r'r't or qu'r'r'r'rt". During the mating display both the male and female sing. They also make a cluck or ptink alarm call and a "guttural hissing" threat display.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Pale-breasted Illadopsis
Illadopsis rufipennis
A chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab babbler with a white throat and brownish breast. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually in small groups. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Very similar to Brown Illadopsis, but slightly different vocally, with higher and more inflected whistles. Also slightly paler below and more richly colored above, with a cleaner white throat. Most often detected by voice. The highly variable song consists of single-note pure whistles or short whistled phrases separated by pauses, often in a three-note ascending series; listen for a haunting clear monotone whistle. Also gives scolding calls, sometimes accompanying the whistled song.
Black-faced Grassquit
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Small sparrowlike bird found in the Caribbean and northern South America. Males are dull olive above with a variable amount of black on the face and breast. Females are plain grayish-olive overall; note the small size, short tail, and pinkish bill and legs. Very similar to female Sooty Grassquit. Found in pairs or small groups in shrubby or grassy areas and forest edge, typically on or near the ground.
Common Miner
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