Setopagis parvula
The Little Nightjar, *Setopagis parvula*, is a diminutive and exquisitely camouflaged nocturnal bird, belonging to the family Caprimulgidae. Measuring a mere 18-20 cm (7.1-7.9 in) in length and weighing 25-35g, it is often the smallest nightjar within its South American range. Its plumage is a masterpiece of cryptic coloration, featuring mottled grey-brown upperparts finely streaked with blackish-brown, a broad buffy nuchal collar that can be faint, and finely barred buffy-white underparts. A...
Found primarily in dry open woodlands, savannas, thorn scrub, and forest edges, often near water sources. It inhabits low to mid-elevations, typically below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects including moths, beetles, and mosquitoes. It forages by sallying from a perch to snatch prey in flight.
Strictly nocturnal, the Little Nightjar roosts silently on the ground or low branches during daylight hours, relying entirely on its cryptic plumage for concealment. Foraging commences at dusk, with the bird sallying from low perches or the ground to capture flying insects mid-air before returnin...
The Little Nightjar is a resident species found widely across central and eastern South America. Its breeding and year-round distribution encompasses a significant portion of Brazil, extending into eastern Bolivia, throughout Paraguay, Uruguay, and into the northern provinces of Argentina. In Bra...
Least Concern
- The scientific name 'parvula' is Latin for 'small,' perfectly reflecting this nightjar's diminutive stature. - Like other nightjars, it possesses specialized rictal bristles around its mouth, thought to aid in trapping insects during aerial foraging. - Its wide gape, disproportionate to its hea...