Ocellated Poorwill

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus

Least ConcernRareInvertebratesForestScrapeSmall · 40 g

About the Ocellated Poorwill

The ocellated poorwill is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The ocellated poorwill is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long. Males weigh 35 to 43 g (1.2 to 1.5 oz) and females 29 to 44 g (1.0 to 1.6 oz). There are two color morphs, one brown and one rufous. The brown morph of the nominate is mostly dark grayish brown with blackish brown spots on the wings and white spots on the belly. The white spots somewhat resemble eyes, which gives the bird its name. It has a bold white band around the throat. The outer three or four tail feathers have narrow white tips. The rufous morph is paler and reddish brown instead of dark brown. N. o. Voice: The male ocellated poorwill's song is "a repetitive trilled 'preeeo' or 'prEEoo'". The call is "a soft, guttural 'wah, wah, wah'."

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Colombia.

When to see it

Peak activity in August · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Ocellated Poorwill for real

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