Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) | Photos, Calls and ID

LCLeast ConcernInvertebrates

WoodlandScrapeSmall · 58 g

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), photo 4 — Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), photo 5 — Photo: Miguel A. Paixão · CC BY 4.0

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), photo 6 — Photo: danielmoreno · CC0

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), photo 7 — Photo: Monkey Safari Tur · CC0

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis), photo 8 — Photo: Monkey Safari Tur · CC0

What the Pauraque sounds like

Sonogram of the Pauraque: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.

Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · Fila De Mariches (near Parroquia La Dolorita), Sucre, Distrito Capital, Venezuela · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by grete pasch · Song · Finca La Gracia, Guatemala · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Jose Colorado-Dapa · Song · La Pesca, Soto la Marina Municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

This medium-sized nightjar is 8.7–11 in (22–28 cm) long and has two colour morphs, the plumage being variegated greyish-brown or rufous-brown. It is long-tailed and has broad rounded wings. The buff 'eye-ring' and 'facial stripe' contrast with the reddish sides of the face. The adult male pauraque has a white band near the wing tips, and the outer tail feathers are mainly white. The female's wing band is narrower and the white in the outer tail is more restricted. There are seven subspecies of the pauraque, differing in size and greyness.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Pauraque

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Pauraque

Regular range

The map shades 22 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Pauraque

The pauraque – also called the common pauraque to distinguish it from similar species – is a nightjar species, one of two birds in the genus Nyctidromus. It breeds in the subtropical and tropical regions of the New World, and except for northernmost birds it is largely resident all year round.

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

Easily confused with

Anthony's NightjarNyctidromus anthonyiMale Anthony's nightjars weigh 32.3 to 39.5 g (1.1 to 1.4 oz) with a mean of about 35 g (1.2 oz) and females 31.0 to 42.0 g (1.1 to 1.5 oz) with a mean of about 37 g (1.3 oz).

Learn the Pauraque in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.