Eleothreptus anomalus
The Sickle-winged Nightjar (*Eleothreptus anomalus*) is a captivating and highly specialized member of the Caprimulgidae family, known for its remarkably distinct wing morphology. Measuring 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) in length and weighing 35-50g, this medium-sized nightjar exhibits a cryptic, brownish-gray plumage with intricate rufous streaking, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its grassland environment. Its most striking field mark, and the source of its name, are the stiff, shortened, and ...
Found primarily in open grasslands, savannas, and pampas, often with scattered shrubs or sparse trees, typically inhabiting lowland areas up to 500 meters in elevation.
Feeds almost exclusively on flying insects, primarily moths, beetles, and other nocturnal invertebrates, caught in flight during crepuscular and nocturnal hours.
This nightjar is strictly crepuscular and nocturnal, becoming active at dusk and dawn to forage, and remaining cryptically roosted on the ground during the day. Its foraging strategy is typical of nightjars: it is an aerial insectivore, hawking moths, beetles, and other flying insects on the wing...
The Sickle-winged Nightjar has a fragmented distribution across central and eastern South America, primarily within the grassland biomes such as the Cerrado and Chaco. Its range includes disjunct populations in southern Brazil (States of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Mato ...
Vulnerable
- Its common name, 'Sickle-winged Nightjar,' comes directly from the unique, curved shape of its primary and secondary wing feathers. - This nightjar is the sole species in its genus, Eleothreptus, highlighting its distinct evolutionary lineage. - Its flight is described as unusually slow and buo...