Antrostomus rufus
The Rufous Nightjar, *Antrostomus rufus*, is a master of cryptic camouflage, a characteristic shared with its relatives in the Caprimulgidae family, often referred to as "goatsuckers." Measuring approximately 25-29 cm (10-11.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of 45-50 cm (17-20 inches) and weighing 60-90 grams, this medium-sized nightjar is predominantly rufous-brown, finely streaked and mottled with black, buff, and gray, allowing it to blend seamlessly into leaf litter and tree bark. Key i...
Inhabits open woodlands, dry forests, savannas, forest edges, and plantations, typically found from sea level up to around 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Exclusively insectivorous, primarily consuming large moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and other flying insects caught in mid-air using its wide gape.
The Rufous Nightjar is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, spending its days roosting cryptically on the ground amidst leaf litter or perched horizontally on low branches, perfectly camouflaged. It forages by making swift, agile flights from a perch or directly from the ground to hawk insects in...
The Rufous Nightjar has a broad distribution across South America, extending from northern Colombia and Venezuela south through the Amazon Basin, southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. It is primarily a resident species throughout this extensive range, with little evi...
Least Concern
- The Rufous Nightjar's scientific name, *Antrostomus*, means "cave mouth," referring to its remarkably wide gape used to catch flying insects. - It is a master of camouflage, with plumage so intricately patterned that it can become virtually invisible when roosting on the forest floor or a branc...