White-winged Nightjar
| White-winged Nightjar | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Caprimulgus |
| Species: | C. candicans |
| Binomial name | |
| Caprimulgus candicans (Pelzeln, 1867) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Stenopsis candicans Pelzeln, 1867 | |
The White-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus candicans) is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.
Information
The White-winged Nightjar had received it name that was derived from a Latin word that means 'goatsucker' due to its large mouth that people used to believe that the bird used to feed on the livestock. This species is known to be silent except when the male is putting on displays for a female. The displays usually happen in the moonlight by anthills, and the male spreads his wings out. It is a nocturnal bird. It flies at night in order to prey for food. The first White-winged Nightjar nest that was discovered in the year of 1997. In the country of Paraguay, it is recorded that nesting occurs between the months of September and December. The female takes on all the duties of incubating and watching over the nest.[2]
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of the White-winged Nightjar is as follows:
- Kingdom-Animalia
- Phylum-Chordata
- Class-Aves
- Order-Caprimulgiformes
- Family-Caprimulgidae
- Genus-Eleothreptus[2]
Size
The average length of the White-winged Nightjar is about 19–21 cm. The average weight of a male is from 46-55 grams. The average female weight is about 51-56 grams.[2]
Location
It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.[3] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. The White-winged Nightjar is native to open grasslands that has scattered trees and bushes, shrubs or dwarf palms, and anthills and termite mounds.[2]
Biology
It is threatened by habitat loss. The species is widely distributed, but within the range of the species, there are several factors that are lowering and threatening the population of them. The expansion of agriculture creates a threat to their habitat. There are also man-made fires that clear out the vegetation that affect the habitat as well. The invasion of grasses that are not native to the area also pose as a threat to the White-winged Nightjar.[2]
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Eleothreptus candicans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "White-winged nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans)". Arkive. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ↑ "Eleothreptus candicans". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 27 January 2013.