Satanic nightjar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Satanic nightjar
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Caprimulgiformes
Family:	Caprimulgidae
Genus:	Eurostopodus
Species:	E. diabolicus
Binomial name
Eurostopodus diabolicus Stresemann, 1931
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

The Satanic nightjar (Eurostopodus diabolicus) is a medium-sized bird. It is also known as Heinrich's nightjar. This bird has dark brown feathers with spots. It lives only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

A German scientist named Gerd Heinrich first found this bird in 1931. He found one female bird on Mount Klabat in Northern Sulawesi. For many years, people rarely saw the bird. There were only a few unconfirmed reports.

Then, in 1996, David Bishop and Jared Diamond heard its unique call. They officially found it again in Lore Lindu National Park. This discovery greatly increased the known area where the bird lives. Since then, people have seen and studied this nightjar many times.

What Does the Satanic Nightjar Look Like?

The Satanic nightjar is about 27 cm (11 in) long. It has a light-colored collar around its throat. Its head is blackish, and its back is grayish-brown. Its belly has brown stripes. It also has white spots on some of its wing feathers.

You can tell this nightjar apart from others in the area. It is darker in color. It does not have ear tufts, a white tail, or white patches on its wings.

Why Is It Called the Satanic Nightjar?

The bird's common name and its scientific name, diabolicus, come from how its calls sound. Some people say that when the bird flies, it makes a "plip-plop" sound. This sound is like water dripping. Locals sometimes thought it sounded like the bird was pulling out someone's eye! However, this description might not be correct. Newer reports of the bird's call are different.

It is also sometimes called Heinrich's nightjar. Other old names include the diabolical nightjar or the devilish nightjar. Some people who want to protect this bird like the name "Satanic." They believe it will help more people notice and care about this rare bird.

Where Does the Satanic Nightjar Live?

The Satanic nightjar lives only on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It makes its home in lowland and mountain rainforests. It can be found from about 250 to 2,300 metres (820 to 7,550 ft) above sea level.

This bird seems to like forest edges. It prefers areas with low trees and groups of palms. You can find it in clearings in the forest. It also lives in open spaces made by roads or trails in old forests. Most sightings have been in the north and central parts of Sulawesi. But it might live all over the island.

Behavior of the Satanic Nightjar

How Does the Satanic Nightjar Communicate?

The Satanic nightjar makes different sounds. When it flies, it makes loud, rising "fWIP! fWIP" notes. These notes happen about one second apart. Sometimes, the notes are closer together. They can sound like "fWIP-WIK!, fWIP-WIK!" The last note is shorter and sharper.

When the bird is resting, it might make a fast, steady trill. This sounds like "TWIk-TWIk- TWIk." Each note starts loud and ends soft. The song usually gets quieter and lower in pitch. It lasts about 2 to 6 seconds. If the nightjar is bothered, it might make growling noises. It also might do a threat display. However, this bird does not vocalize very often. This might be why it is so hard to find.

What Does the Satanic Nightjar Eat?

Like other nightjars, this bird eats insects while flying. It hunts along the edge of the forest. It is active around dusk and dawn. We do not know much about its diet. Scientists think it mainly eats insects that are active at night, like moths.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The Satanic nightjar has a generation time of 5.4 years. This means it takes about 5.4 years for a new generation to grow up. It breeds from March to October. It might even have two different breeding seasons during this time.

The bird rests and builds its nests on the ground. Its patterned feathers help it blend in with the surrounding leaf litter during the day. It builds nests in open areas. These spots usually have some cover from logs or plants like ferns and moss.

Its nest is a shallow scrape with a few leaves. One nest was measured to be 1 cm (0.39 in) deep and 14 cm (5.5 in) wide. The bird lays a cream-colored egg with brown spots. Nests usually have only one egg or one chick. The parents take care of their young for a month or more. If its baby is in danger, the Satanic nightjar will spread its wings and tail. It will also open its mouth wide. Sometimes, it will call or shake its body.

Protecting the Satanic Nightjar

The IUCN Red List says the Satanic nightjar is a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. Its population is small, spread out, and lives in a limited area. Scientists think there are between 2,500 and 10,000 adult birds left. This number is going down.

The biggest threat to the bird is losing its habitat. This happens because of city growth, farming (like coconut farms), logging, and mining. Some of these activities are even done illegally in protected areas. Most of the lowland forest in the region has disappeared or become broken up. Between 1990 and 2000, 20% of the forest cover was lost.

New forests that grow back can provide some habitat. But they have fewer types of birds that live only in Sulawesi. Even though its home range is small, the bird can adapt to changed areas better than once thought. It uses the edge habitats along deforested areas. It has been seen in two protected areas. It also lives farther south than people first believed. Because of this, some suggest its status should be changed to near threatened.

Right now, there are no programs to watch, manage, or raise awareness about this bird. More studies are needed to find out where it lives, what it needs, and its exact status.