Yucatan nightjar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yucatan nightjar |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Antrostomus
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| Species: |
badius
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| Synonyms | |
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Caprimulgus badius |
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The Yucatan nightjar (Antrostomus badius) is a special type of bird that belongs to the nightjar family. These birds are known for being active at night. You can find the Yucatan nightjar in countries like Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras.
Contents
About the Yucatan Nightjar
How Scientists Classify It
For many years, the Yucatan nightjar was placed in a different group of birds called Caprimulgus. But after more study, scientists decided to move it back to its original group, Antrostomus. Sometimes, the Yucatan nightjar and the tawny-collared nightjar were even thought to be the same as the silky-tailed nightjar. However, now we know the Yucatan nightjar is its own unique species.
What It Looks Like
The Yucatan nightjar is about 24 to 25.5 centimeters (9.4 to 10.0 inches) long. A male bird might weigh around 65.5 grams (2.31 ounces), while females are a bit lighter, weighing between 51.2 to 64.3 grams (1.81 to 2.27 ounces).
The male bird has grayish-brown feathers on its back. Its head has dark spots and small white specks. Its back and rump (the lower part of its back) have buff and cinnamon specks, along with dark brown stripes. It has a wide, yellowish-brown collar around its neck.
Its tail is brown with faint yellowish bars. The three outer pairs of tail feathers have wide white tips, while the inner ones have grayish-brown patterns. Its wings are brown to grayish-brown with yellowish spots and bars. The bird's face is yellowish with dark brown specks. Its chin and throat are dark brown with cinnamon bars, and it has a narrow white band below its throat. The chest is brown with buff and cinnamon specks, and its belly and sides are dark brown with cinnamon specks, brown bars, and many white spots.
Female Yucatan nightjars look similar to males, but the pale tips on their outer tail feathers are much smaller and are yellowish, not white.
Where It Lives
The Yucatan nightjar lives all year round in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and on Cozumel island, which is off the coast. During the non-breeding season, you can also find it visiting Belize and northwestern Honduras. There have also been a few sightings in northern Guatemala during this time. These birds like to live in scrublands, bushy woodlands, and along the edges of forests.
Behavior
What It Eats
The Yucatan nightjar is a nocturnal bird, which means it is active at night. It hunts for flying insects by swooping out from a perch (like a branch) or possibly even from the ground.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists are still learning about the Yucatan nightjar's breeding season. When they lay eggs, they usually lay two. Like many other nightjars, they probably lay their eggs directly on the ground without building a nest.
What It Sounds Like
The song of the Yucatan nightjar is a loud and clear sound that can be described as "puc ree-u-reeeu" or "pc weeu wee-weeeu." It usually sings from a hidden spot in a bush or tree, mostly from February through August. It also makes a hard, hollow clucking sound, like "k-lok k-lok" or "p-tok."
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the Yucatan nightjar and decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means that while its population is decreasing, there are still at least 50,000 adult birds, and it is not currently in danger of disappearing. No immediate threats to the bird have been found.
