Swallow-tailed Nightjar
NameSwallow-tailed Nightjar
Common NameSwallow-tailed Nightjar
Scientific NameUropsalis segmentata
FamilyCaprimulgidae
Wingspan (cm)22.5
Length (cm)24
Weight (g)50
Plumage DetailsCryptic mottled brown, black, and rufous plumage, providing superb camouflage against bark and leaf litter. Males possess extraordinarily elongated, slender outer tail feathers, dark with prominent white shafts, which can extend up to 60 cm. Females have much shorter, less elaborate tails.
Vocalization / CallKnown for a distinctive, often repeated, high-pitched 'tseeeoo' or 'tseee-tseee-tseee' call, sometimes described as a whistle or squeak, typically given at dusk or dawn.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Andes mountains of South America, ranging from southern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru, to central Bolivia, typically inhabiting humid montane cloud forests and forest edges.
Identifying Featuresextremely long, white-shafted outer tail feathers (males), cryptic mottled brown and rufous plumage, nocturnal behavior, large eyes, small bill with wide gape for catching insects
Description
The Swallow-tailed Nightjar is a nocturnal bird known for its highly cryptic, mottled brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage. Males are particularly striking due to their extremely long, slender outer tail feathers, which can be more than twice their body length. They are insectivores, primarily catching moths and beetles in flight.
