Scissor-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis torquata
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="hydropsalis-torquata"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/hydropsalis-torquata/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/hydropsalis-torquata/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/hydropsalis-torquata/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="hydropsalis-torquata"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium Caprimulgidae nightjar (~55 g) of open woodland, cerrado, and grassland in eastern and central South America. Males possess spectacularly long scissor-like outer tail feathers. Common around cattle pastures and agricultural land. Feeds on large moths and beetles at night. Least Concern across its broad range.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 36.8 cm | 14.5 in |
| Weight | 54.625 g | 1.93 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Male with enormously elongated outer tail feathers to 25 cm forming scissors in flight; brown and buff mottled body; white throat; white wing spots. Female brown mottled with normal tail length; strong dimorphism.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident of open savanna, cerrado, and scrub from Colombia and Venezuela south through Brazil to Bolivia and northern Argentina.
Diet & Feeding
Catches moths, beetles, and flying insects in aerial sallies at night over South American savanna.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: NO.
Clutch Size
2
Sound
Song
Loud, clear churring 'quurrr'; repetitive at moderate pitch; calls from open cerrado at dusk; males call persistently from prominent perches; alarm a sharp 'chek'
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) |
| Genus | Hydropsalis |
| Species | Hydropsalis torquata |
Distribution
Scissor-tailed Nightjar has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Scissor-tailed Nightjar eat?
Where does the Scissor-tailed Nightjar live?
Is the Scissor-tailed Nightjar endangered?
How does the Scissor-tailed Nightjar nest?
What does the Scissor-tailed Nightjar sound like?
How big is the Scissor-tailed Nightjar?
What order and family does the Scissor-tailed Nightjar belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Caprimulgidae family