Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi
The Choco Poorwill (*Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi*) is a medium-sized, highly cryptic nightjar endemic to the humid Chocó biogeographic region of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Measuring approximately 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weighing around 30-40 grams, its plumage is a masterwork of camouflage, intricately mottled with shades of brown, grey, rufous, and black, allowing it to vanish seamlessly into the forest floor. Key field marks include a distinct, crescent-shaped white ...
Inhabits humid tropical and subtropical lowland evergreen forests, frequently found along forest edges, clearings, and areas of secondary growth. Occurs from sea level up to approximately 1,100 meters in elevation.
Feeds exclusively on nocturnal flying insects, including moths, beetles, and other arthropods, which it captures during agile aerial pursuits.
Choco Poorwills are strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, emerging at dusk to forage and retreating to dense cover before dawn. During daylight hours, they roost motionless on the forest floor, blending perfectly with leaf litter, or occasionally on low, horizontal branches, relying solely on their...
The Choco Poorwill is narrowly endemic to the humid Pacific slope of western South America, specifically within the Chocó biogeographic region. Its distribution begins in extreme northwestern Colombia, extending south through the departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and Nariño. From Colo...
Near Threatened
- The Choco Poorwill's specific epithet, *rosenbergi*, honors German ornithologist Carl von Rosenberg, who collected the type specimen. - Its exceptional camouflage is so effective that it is almost impossible to spot during the day, even when you know it's there. - Unlike most birds that build n...