A nightjar of tropical southern US habitats.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The pauraque – also called the common pauraque to distinguish it from similar species – is a nightjar species, one of two birds in the genus Nyctidromus. It breeds in the subtropical and tropical regions of the New World, and except for northernmost birds it is largely resident all year round.
Source: Wikipedia — Pauraque Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Large, long-tailed nightjar mottled gray-brown and rufous, with a rounded tail; males show a bold white band across the wing and white tail edges in flight.
Similar species. Nighthawks have forked tails and bold white wing bars in fast flight; the Pauraque is longer-tailed and flutters low along the ground.
Voice. A distinctive, slurred whistle 'pur-WEEEE-oo' carrying through the night.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Flying insects caught at dusk/night.
Behavior. A tropical nightjar that reaches southern Texas; rests on the ground by day, superbly camouflaged, and hunts insects along roads and woodland edges at night, eyes glowing in headlights.
§ Range
South Texas, Caribbean
§ Habitat
Tropical habitats
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the common pauraque is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support South Texas conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pauraque
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Nyctidromus albicollis
- IUCN Red List — search for Nyctidromus albicollis
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Nyctidromus albicollis
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
