Eared Poorwill

Overview

The eared poorwill (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae, endemic to western Mexico. It is currently rated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, despite a believed decreasing population.

Identification

• Measures 20 to 21 cm in length with crown feathers that project as distinctive 'ear tufts'.
• The nominate subspecies has grayish upperparts with black and white wing spots, a white neck band, and a buff belly with white spots; a rufous morph exhibits cinnamon to reddish-brown plumage.
• The male's song is described as a loud, abrupt 'peeyo' or 'peejo' that ends emphatically, often accompanied by a descending, wavering 'teu-uu-uu'.

Habitat

Found for most of the length of western Mexico, this species mainly inhabits open pine/oak or oak woodland in semi-arid mountainous terrain. It also occurs in wooded gulleys, hillsides below cloudforest, and overgrown fields, typically between elevations of 600 to 2,000 m, though records exist up to 2,500 m.

Diet

The eared poorwill forages for insects by sallying from trees or the ground. Beetles and moths appear to form the bulk of its diet.

Did you know?

The clutch of two eggs is laid directly on the ground, with both sexes participating in incubation.