Nacunda nighthawk
| Nacunda nighthawk | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Chordeiles |
| Species: | C. nacunda
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| Binomial name | |
| Chordeiles nacunda (Vieillot,1817)
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| Synonyms | |
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Thenacunda nighthawk(Chordeiles nacunda) is a species ofnightjarin the familyCaprimulgidae.It is found inArgentina,Bolivia,Brazil,Chile,Colombia,Ecuador,French Guiana,Guyana,Paraguay,Peru,Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago,Uruguay,andVenezuela.Its natural habitats are drysavanna,subtropicalortropicalseasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and heavily degraded formerforest.[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]The species was formerly placed in themonotypicgenusPodager,but was reclassified into the genusChordeilesin 2011.[2]The former generic namepodageroriginates from the Latin meaning "a man suffering fromgout"and reflects the awkward walking manner of this nighthawk. The specific namenacundais derived from theGuaraníword for a "big-mouth".[3]
Description
[edit]
The nacunda nighthawk is not only the largest of the highly aerial nightjars known as nighthawks and the largest species of nightjar in theneotropics,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 thegreat 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
[edit]- ^abcBirdLife International (2016)."Chordeiles nacunda".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T22689723A93245296.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689723A93245296.en.Retrieved16 November2021.
- ^"Frogmouths, Oilbird, potoos & nightjars – IOC World Bird List".www.worldbirdnames.org.Retrieved8 June2017.
- ^Sclater, Philip(1889).Argentine Ornithology: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of the Argentine Republic.R. H. Porter. p.12.
- ^Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, J. (1992).Handbook of the Birds of the World.Barcelona: Lynx Editions.
- ^Dunning Jr., John B., ed. (2008).CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses(2nd ed.). CRC Press.ISBN978-1-4200-6444-5.
- ^ab"Neotropical Birds".Cornell Labs.Retrieved21 July2018.
External links
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