Common Pauraque
Order : Caprimulgidae
Any
of about 100 species of soft plumed birds with cryptically coloured and
patterned plumage, short legs, and for the most part, long wings. Most
are twilight or night flying birds, and many produce startling, strange
or weirdly beautiful sounds and are surrounded by an aura of mystery.
The order includes the cosmopolitan Nightjars, the Frogmouths of
Australasia and south east Asia, the Australasian Owlet-nightjars, and
the South American Potoos and Oilbird. All are insectivorous with the
exception of the Oilbird which is the worlds only nocturnal bird that
eats plant food.
Family : Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Nightjars
are made up of about 60 or 70 species of birds that occur world wide
except in New Zealand and some Islands of Oceania, and include the
American relatives the Nighthawk, Poorwill and Pauraque. They feed
predominantly on moths and other flying insects, usually taken on the
wing at dusk or dawn which is when they are most active. Some species
perch along a branch to assist in concealment.
Name : Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)
Length : 28 cm (11 in )
The
Pauraque spends the day resting in shaded grass or thicket on the
ground, on nothing more than bare earth. It becomes active after the sun
has set, flying to a favourite open spot, usually on a dirt pathway or
similar clearing where it will rest on the ground and watch for moths
and other flying insects, flying up from the ground to take it’s prey on
the wing. The male will call constantly, a whistled phrase
‘ker-whee-oo’, in the hope of locating a mate. Should he hear a reply he
will beat his wings on the bare earth in a cupped fashion, the sound
emitted is like that of a drum being played with cupped hands rather
than anything you could expect from a bird. Should another Pauraque land
on the track he will fly to it, and if finding another male, he will
chase it off with both birds often showing unbelievable dexterity and
maneuverability which is only heightened by their silent flight. The
Pauraque can perch on branches, but does so only as an escape from
possible danger, or while moving to locate the reply’s from another
bird, spending the predominant amount of the time on the ground. It’s a
strongly patterned bird, being a mottled brown with a bold white bar on
each wing. The male having white outer tail feathers.
#Common #Pauraque #Nyctidromus #albicollis #Nightjar #Caprimulgidae #Caprimulgidae #birds #Tobago
Bird identification pictures
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| Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) Adult Nightjar |
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| Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) hatchlings |
