Band-tailed Nighthawk
Nyctiprogne leucopyga
The Band-tailed Nighthawk (Nyctiprogne leucopyga) is a rare nightjars and nighthawk found in 9 countries, weighing about 27 g. The band-tailed nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.
About the Band-tailed Nighthawk
The band-tailed nighthawk is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is widely spread throughout northern and central South America. Five subspecies are recognised. They are nocturnal birds that feed on flying insects. As with almost all nightjars, they lay their eggs directly on the ground and rely their camouflaged plumage to avoid predation.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The band-tailed nighthawks is a small species, with a body length of 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in), and a wingspan of 12.9 to 14.1 cm (5.1 to 5.6 in). Adults weigh from 0.023 to 0.028 kg (0.051 to 0.062 lb). The female has a larger average weight and wingspan than the male. The bill is very wide but short, with a length of 0.9 to 0.97 cm (0.35 to 0.38 in), and is hooked at the tip. It has cryptically patterned brown plumage, used to blend in with tree bark and leaves. Its wings are long with pointed wingtips, and have no white markings. Voice: Few vocalizations have been recorded for the band-tailed nighthawk. It has a gole-kwoik-kwak call that is at a similar pitch to a frog's ribbit, and is repeated steadily and at a low, subtle volume; it is considered a territorial call.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Ecuador.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Band-tailed Nighthawk?
- The band-tailed nighthawks is a small species, with a body length of 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in), and a wingspan of 12.9 to 14.1 cm (5.1 to 5.6 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Band-tailed Nighthawk?
- The Band-tailed Nighthawk is a small sized bird weighing about 27 g.
- Where can you see a Band-tailed Nighthawk?
- The Band-tailed Nighthawk occurs in 9 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Peru.
- What birds look similar to a Band-tailed Nighthawk?
- The Band-tailed Nighthawk is most easily confused with the Plain-tailed Nighthawk.
- Is the Band-tailed Nighthawk endangered?
- The Band-tailed Nighthawk is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Band-tailed Nighthawk for real
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