Antrostomus saturatus
The Dusky Nightjar, *Antrostomus saturatus*, is a highly enigmatic and visually elusive member of the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae, inhabiting the high-altitude cloud forests of Central America. This medium-sized nightjar measures 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 45 cm (18 inches), and is characterized by its exceptionally dark, sooty-brown to blackish plumage, which provides superlative camouflage against the dim understory of its dense montane habitat. Ma...
This species exclusively inhabits humid evergreen montane cloud forests and forest edges at elevations typically ranging from 1,200 to 2,800 meters.
The Dusky Nightjar is an aerial insectivore, primarily consuming large nocturnal flying insects such as moths, beetles, and true bugs, caught on the wing.
Strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, the Dusky Nightjar spends its days cryptically roosting on the forest floor, among leaf litter, or perched lengthwise on a low branch, its dark plumage blending perfectly with its surroundings. As dusk falls, it becomes active, sallying from a favored perch or ...
The Dusky Nightjar is a resident species restricted to the highlands of Central America, primarily found in Costa Rica and western and central Panama. Its core breeding and year-round range encompasses the Talamanca Mountain range in Costa Rica and the Chiriquà Highlands of western Panama, extend...
Least Concern
- The Dusky Nightjar is one of the most enigmatic and least-studied nightjar species due to its remote habitat and nocturnal habits. - Its scientific name, *saturatus*, literally means "saturated" in Latin, referring to its unusually dark, almost blackish plumage. - It is a master of camouflage, ...