Nyctidromus anthonyi
Anthony's Nightjar (*Nyctidromus anthonyi*) is a master of camouflage, a medium-sized, nocturnal bird reaching about 21-23 cm (8.3-9.1 inches) in length. Its plumage is a complex mosaic of mottled browns, grays, buffs, and blacks, perfectly blending with its arid scrub and woodland habitat. Distinctive field marks include a prominent white band across the primary wing feathers and, especially in males, white outer tail feathers that flash during flight, though females exhibit significantly re...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid scrublands, dry deciduous woodlands, and forest edges, typically at elevations up to 1,200 meters, occasionally higher.
Feeds almost exclusively on insects, primarily moths, beetles, and other flying invertebrates, captured in flight.
Strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, Anthony's Nightjar spends its days motionless on the ground or a low branch, relying entirely on its cryptic plumage for concealment. It forages by making aerial sallies from a low perch or in continuous, buoyant flight, snatching insects mid-air with its wide ...
Anthony's Nightjar is an endemic resident of the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Its distribution extends from southern Manabí and Guayas provinces in Ecuador, south through El Oro and Loja provinces, and into adjacent northern departments of Peru, includ...
Least Concern
- Anthony's Nightjar is a master of camouflage; its mottled plumage allows it to virtually disappear against leaf litter or bark, making it incredibly difficult to spot during the day. - Unlike many birds, nightjars have stiff bristles around their mouths (rictal bristles) which are thought to he...