Nacunda Nighthawk

Overview

The Nacunda Nighthawk (Chordeiles nacunda) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae found across much of South America. It is one of the largest nightjar species in the world, distinguished by its substantial size and partially diurnal habits.

Identification

• Length ranges from 27.5 to 32 cm, making it the largest species of nightjar in the neotropics.
• Features a large head and pale body with highly contrasting black primaries.
• Possesses notably long tarsi, making it more likely than other nightjars to be seen standing on the ground rather than resting on the surface.

Habitat

This species is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats include dry savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.

Did you know?

The former generic name Podager originates from the Latin for 'a man suffering from gout', a reference to the awkward walking manner of this nighthawk.