Jamaican Poorwill
Siphonorhis americana
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<birdfyi-bird slug="siphonorhis-americana"></birdfyi-bird>The Jamaican Poorwill (Siphonorhis americana) is a bird species in the family Caprimulgidae (nightjars), within the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars & swifts). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 27 cm and a weight of 55.4 g.
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About
A medium Caprimulgidae poorwill (~55 g) endemic to Jamaica; possibly extinct or extremely rare. Last confirmed record in 1860; reported subsequently but never verified. Inhabited dry limestone scrub forest. Cryptic mottled plumage. Presumed nocturnal insectivore. Not currently evaluated by IUCN.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm | 10.6 in |
| Weight | 55.4 g | 1.95 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Brown and rufous mottled above with dark vermiculations; pale buff below with dark barring; white throat patch in male; buff and dark barred tail; no white wing patches. Closely resembles Least Poorwill; Jamaica endemic.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Endemic to Jamaica; possibly extinct; known from historical specimens; no confirmed records since the 19th century.
Diet & Feeding
Caught flying insects at night in Jamaican dry forest; presumed extinct since 19th century.
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: NO.
Sound
Song
Possibly extinct; historically described as soft 'wheep-wheep'; whistled, purring call from dry limestone forest; no modern recordings exist
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) |
| Genus | Siphonorhis |
| Species | Siphonorhis americana |
Distribution
Jamaican Poorwill has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Jamaican Poorwill eat?
Where does the Jamaican Poorwill live?
How does the Jamaican Poorwill nest?
What does the Jamaican Poorwill sound like?
How big is the Jamaican Poorwill?
What order and family does the Jamaican Poorwill belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Caprimulgidae family