Scissor-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis torquata
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flügelspannweite | 36,8 cm | 14.5 in |
| Gewicht | 54,625 g | 1.93 oz |
Identifizierung
Gefieder
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
Geografisches Verbreitungsgebiet
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.
Erhaltungsstatus
Verhalten & Brutverhalten
Nistverhalten
Nest type: NO.
Gelegegröße
2
Lautgebung
Gesang
Loud, clear churring 'quurrr'; repetitive at moderate pitch; calls from open cerrado at dusk; males call persistently from prominent perches; alarm a sharp 'chek'
Taxonomie
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Ordnung | Caprimulgiformes (Nachtschwalben und Segler) |
| Familie | Caprimulgidae (Nachtschwalben) |
| Genus | Hydropsalis |
| Arten | Hydropsalis torquata |
Distribution
Scissor-tailed Nightjar has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Häufig gestellte Fragen
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