Nacunda nighthawk
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Genus: Chordeiles
Species:
C. nacunda
Binomial name
Chordeiles nacunda
(Vieillot, 1817)
Synonyms
  • Podager nacunda[1]

The nacunda nighthawk (Chordeiles nacunda) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded former forest.[1]

Taxonomy

The species was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Podager, but was reclassified into the genus Chordeiles in 2011.[2] The former generic name podager originates from the Latin meaning "a man suffering from gout" and reflects the awkward walking manner of this nighthawk. The specific name nacunda is derived from the Guaraní word for a "big-mouth".[3]

Description

Nacunda nighthawk in flight

The nacunda nighthawk is not only the largest of the highly aerial nightjars known as nighthawks and the largest species of nightjar in the neotropics, it is one of the largest species in the world. Its length, at 27.5 to 32 cm (10.8 to 12.6 in), is somewhat less than the great eared-nightjar, which is typically considered the largest species in the family, but the nacunda may actually weigh a bit more on average.[4] Six specimens of nacunda nighthawk were found to average 159 g (5.6 oz) in body mass, with range of 130 to 188 g (4.6 to 6.6 oz).[5] Its very large size, large head, and pale body with highly contrasting black primaries make the nacunda nighthawk easy to identify.[6]

This species is noteworthy for its partially diurnal habits. Though a capable aerial forager, the nacunda nighthawk spends a considerable amount of time on the ground; it has notably long tarsi for a nightjar, and is more likely than other species to be seen standing on the ground, rather than resting on the surface.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2016). "Chordeiles nacunda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22689723A93245296. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689723A93245296.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Frogmouths, Oilbird, potoos & nightjars – IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Sclater, Philip (1889). Argentine Ornithology: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of the Argentine Republic. R. H. Porter. p. 12.
  4. ↑ Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, J. (1992). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Editions.
  5. ↑ Dunning Jr., John B., ed. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses (2nd ed.). CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5.
  6. 1 2 "Neotropical Birds". Cornell Labs. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
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