Little Nightjar ( Caprimulgus parvulus )
- Sent by Rodrigo Girardi Santiago - 31/10/2006
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Length: 20cm
Identification: nightjars are always very difficult to identify as they are nocturnal birds, rarely seen during the day due to their camouflage. On the other hand there are few species inhabitting urban areas and among these the little nightjar is usually the smallest and with the lightest color pattern.
Distribution: it is distributed through all the South American countries east to the Andes.
Habitat: occurs in a wide range of ecosystems, but is specially common in forest edges surrounded by crops and wetlands.
This nightjar spends the whole day quiet and very well camouflaged on the ground and thus is rarely seen at daylight. It only flies during the day if threatened and when it does so the flight is a fast zig-zag which confuses the predators.
In the night this nightjar flies restlessly catching flying insects like a swift (not a distant relative).
The southern populations migrate northwards in severe winters.
