Pygmy Nightjar
Nyctipolus hirundinaceus
The Pygmy Nightjar (Nyctipolus hirundinaceus) is a rare nightjars and nighthawk found only in Brazil, weighing about 32 g. The pygmy nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.










About the Pygmy Nightjar
The pygmy nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The pygmy nightjar is 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) long; one male weighed 32 g (1.1 oz). Males of the nominate subspecies have brown upperparts with grayish white and cinnamon speckles. The tail is brown with paler bars; some feathers have white tips. They have a buffy throat stripe and a white chin and throat with brown bars. The upper breast is a broad buffy cinnamon band with brown spots, the lower breast is brown with pale spots and bars, and the belly and flanks buff with brown bars. Females are similar to the males but paler and do not have the white on the tail. N. n. Voice: The pygmy nightjar's song is "a short single-noted, whistle, wheeo or wheo, and is often preceded by a rapid series of 3-4 wha notes, e.g. wha wha wah wheeo." Its alarm call is "liquid prrip notes."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Pygmy Nightjar can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pygmy Nightjar?
- The pygmy nightjar is 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) long; one male weighed 32 g (1.1 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pygmy Nightjar?
- The Pygmy Nightjar is a small sized bird weighing about 32 g.
- Where can you see a Pygmy Nightjar?
- The Pygmy Nightjar is endemic to Brazil, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Pygmy Nightjar?
- The Pygmy Nightjar is most easily confused with the Blackish Nightjar.
- Is the Pygmy Nightjar endangered?
- The Pygmy Nightjar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Pygmy Nightjar for real
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