Puerto Rican Nightjar
Antrostomus noctitherus
The Puerto Rican Nightjar (Antrostomus noctitherus) is a rare nightjars and nighthawk found only in Puerto Rico, weighing about 36 g. The Puerto Rican nightjar, Puerto Rican whip-poor-will or guabairo is a bird in the nightjar family found in the coastal dry scrub forests in localized areas of southwestern Puerto Rico.
About the Puerto Rican Nightjar
The Puerto Rican nightjar, Puerto Rican whip-poor-will or guabairo is a bird in the nightjar family found in the coastal dry scrub forests in localized areas of southwestern Puerto Rico. It was described in 1916 from bones found in a cave in north central Puerto Rico and a single skin specimen from 1888, and was considered extinct until observed in the wild in 1961. The current population is estimated as 1,400-2,000 mature birds. The species is currently classified as Endangered due to pressures from habitat loss.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Puerto Rican nightjars, whose song is composed of rapid "whip" notes, are small birds about 22–23 cm in length, weighing 39–41 g. Similar to the Antillean nighthawk, the species has a mottled, black, brown and gray colored plumage which serves as camouflage while the bird is perched on the ground. Males have a black throat with a white thin horizontal line. There are white spots on the lower part of the tail which are visible in flight. Females are of a buff rather than white coloration. Puerto Rican nightjars have large, dark black eyes, a short gray bill, and gray tarsi.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Puerto Rican Nightjar?
- Puerto Rican nightjars, whose song is composed of rapid "whip" notes, are small birds about 22–23 cm in length, weighing 39–41 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Puerto Rican Nightjar?
- The Puerto Rican Nightjar is a small sized bird weighing about 36 g.
- Where can you see a Puerto Rican Nightjar?
- The Puerto Rican Nightjar is endemic to Puerto Rico, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Puerto Rican Nightjar?
- The Puerto Rican Nightjar is most easily confused with the Cuban Nightjar, the Yucatan Nightjar and the Silky-tailed Nightjar.
- Is the Puerto Rican Nightjar endangered?
- The Puerto Rican Nightjar is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Puerto Rican Nightjar for real
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