Plain-tailed nighthawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plain-tailed nighthawk |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Nyctiprogne |
| Species: |
N. vielliardi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nyctiprogne vielliardi (Lencioni-Neto, 1994)
|
|
 |
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The plain-tailed nighthawk (Nyctiprogne vielliardi) is a special type of bird called a nightjar. It belongs to the family Caprimulgidae. This bird is only found in Brazil, which means it is endemic to that country. It lives in dry areas known as savannas. Sadly, its home is shrinking, which puts the plain-tailed nighthawk at risk.
This bird got its name because its tail is plain, without any stripes or bands. People sometimes call it the "Bahia Nighthawk" or "Caatinga Nighthawk" too.
Contents
What Does the Plain-tailed Nighthawk Look Like?
When a plain-tailed nighthawk is fully grown, it has dark brown feathers. Its long upper wings are black. The top parts of its body and its chest have gray and white colors. What makes it different from the band-tailed nighthawk is its plain black tail.
Where Does the Plain-tailed Nighthawk Live?
Plain-tailed nighthawks are found only in Brazil. They live in just two main areas that we know of right now. One area is along the São Francisco River and the rivers nearby. This is in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais in central Brazil.
These birds are considered "near threatened." This means they could be in danger because they are losing their riverside forests and other places they like to live. These areas are important parts of their small home range.
How Does the Plain-tailed Nighthawk Behave?
We don't know a lot about the plain-tailed nighthawk because it was only recently identified as a species. However, we do know some interesting things about how it lives.
These birds are crepuscular, which means they are active during dawn (sunrise) and dusk (sunset). They are also nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they sleep on the ground. Their feathers help them blend in perfectly with their surroundings, making them hard to spot!
People have seen groups of up to 20 plain-tailed nighthawks flying above rivers when the sun is setting.
What Does the Plain-tailed Nighthawk Eat?
Plain-tailed nighthawks mostly eat insects. They find large groups, or "swarms," of insects to catch. They are also clever at getting a drink of water. They will swoop down slowly over the surface of a river or pond to sip water.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
To find a female, the male plain-tailed nighthawk sings. He also sings to mark his territory and keep other birds away.
Plain-tailed nighthawks do not build fancy nests. Instead, the female lays her eggs in a small dip on the ground. This dip is not lined with anything. They usually lay one or two eggs, but most often two. The eggs are white or creamy with dark spots. These spots help the eggs blend in with the ground, keeping them safe from predators.
The female bird sits on the eggs during the day to keep them warm. At night, both parents take turns incubating the eggs. The eggs hatch after about 19 to 21 days. The male nighthawk's main job is to protect the nest from any dangers. Both parents feed the baby chicks mostly insects. The young birds are ready to leave the nest when they are about 20 to 21 days old.
 | Janet Taylor Pickett |
 | Synthia Saint James |
 | Howardena Pindell |
 | Faith Ringgold |
