Antrostomus salvini
The Tawny-collared Nightjar, *Antrostomus salvini*, is a medium-sized, cryptically plumaged nocturnal bird belonging to the Caprimulgidae family, commonly known as nightjars or goatsuckers. Measuring approximately 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length, it is distinguished by its mottled brown, grey, and rufous plumage, providing exceptional camouflage against leaf litter and bark. Its most distinctive field mark is the prominent tawny-rufous collar across the hind-neck, contrasted by a white or...
This species primarily inhabits a variety of dry to humid forests, woodlands, and secondary growth, often favoring areas with an open understory. It is typically found at low to middle elevations, generally below 1,500 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of flying insects, predominantly moths and beetles, which it captures in mid-air using its wide gape and specialized rictal bristles.
The Tawny-collared Nightjar is strictly crepuscular and nocturnal, spending its days roosting motionless and perfectly camouflaged on the ground or a low branch, often oriented parallel to the branch. Its foraging strategy involves aerial hawking, where it makes short, agile flights from a perch ...
The Tawny-collared Nightjar is a resident species, with a distribution extending from southern Mexico through much of Central America. Its northernmost range includes the Mexican states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. From there, it continues south through Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Hondur...
Least Concern
- The Tawny-collared Nightjar's scientific name *salvini* honors Osbert Salvin, a prominent British naturalist who specialized in Central American ornithology. - Its cryptic plumage is so effective that it can be virtually invisible even when roosting just feet away, blending seamlessly with leaf...