Antrostomus sericocaudatus
The Silky-tailed Nightjar (Antrostomus sericocaudatus) is a captivating, cryptically-plumaged nocturnal bird native to South America, renowned for its soft, elongated tail feathers that lend it its common name. This medium-sized caprimulgid measures approximately 25-27 cm (10-11 in) in length, featuring mottled plumage in shades of brown, grey, and rufous, providing superb camouflage against forest leaf litter or bark. Distinctive field marks include pale nuchal collars, and in males, promine...
Found in subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, often favoring forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth up to elevations of about 1400 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on nocturnal flying insects, predominantly moths and beetles, captured in flight via aerial hawking from a perch or continuous flight.
Strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, the Silky-tailed Nightjar spends its days motionless, perfectly camouflaged, either roosting on the ground amidst leaf litter or horizontally along a branch, often mimicking a broken snag. At dusk and dawn, it becomes active, primarily employing an aerial sally...
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is a resident species distributed across central and southeastern South America, exhibiting no migratory movements. Its breeding and year-round range extends from eastern Bolivia and western Brazil eastward through southern Brazil, encompassing portions of eastern Paragu...
Least Concern
- The 'silky' part of its name refers to the soft texture of its elongated tail feathers, which are notably supple to the touch. - Its cryptic plumage is so effective that even when a bird is known to be present, it can be extraordinarily difficult to spot, often appearing as just another clump o...