Spot-tailed Nightjar

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Quick Facts

Nocturnal
  • Scientific Name: Hydropsalis maculicaudus
  • Spanish Name: Chotacabras colipinto
  • Family: Caprimulgidae
  • Known Nicknames: Spotted-tailed Nightjar, Spot-tailed Nightjar
  • Average Length: 21–25 cm / 8.3–9.8 in
  • Average Weight: 30–45 g / 1.1–1.6 oz
  • Wingspan: 45–55 cm / 18–22 in
  • Key Feature: Long, graduated tail with white spots on the outer rectrices
  • Primary Diet: Insectivore
  • Range: Eastern and southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, and northern Bolivia)
  • Habitat: Open savannas, grasslands, cerrado, and forest edges
  • Social Structure: Solitary
  • Nesting/Breeding: Directly on the ground, in a slight depression, often near grass tufts
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Spot-tailed Nightjar (*Hydropsalis maculicaudus*) is a master of nocturnal camouflage, a medium-sized bird whose cryptic plumage blends seamlessly into the dry savannas and open woodlands of South America. Its most distinctive feature, as its name suggests, is the striking pattern of bold white spots adorning the outer tail feathers of the male, which flash brilliantly during aerial courtship displays at dusk. General appearance is a mottled tapestry of brown, grey, and buff, with a relatively long tail and a small, weak bill perfectly adapted for its insectivorous diet. A special feature is its unique "wing-clap" display, where the male produces a sharp, mechanical sound by clapping its wings together above its back, adding an acoustic signature to its visual allure in the fading light.

Fun Facts

The Spot-tailed Nightjar has a truly bizarre feeding technique: it uses its rictal bristles—specialized, whisker-like feathers around its mouth—as a physical net to funnel insects directly into its gaping gape while flying. Unlike many birds that actively chase prey, it often employs a "sit-and-wait" strategy, launching from a perch to snatch moths and beetles mid-air with a soft, audible snap. Its cryptic plumage is so perfectly matched to leaf litter that it will remain motionless even when nearly stepped on, relying on camouflage rather than flight. Perhaps its quirkiest trait is the male's courtship display, where it performs a slow, fluttering "moth flight" low over the ground at dusk, clapping its wings together above its back to produce a sharp, mechanical *clack* sound that can be startling in the quiet night.

Habitats & Distribution

The Spot-tailed Nightjar inhabits open and semi-open environments, typically preferring savannas, grasslands, scrublands, and sandy or rocky terrains with sparse vegetation. It is often found in areas with scattered bushes or low trees, as well as along forest edges and clearings, avoiding dense, closed-canopy forests. Its distribution spans across South America, primarily occurring in the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), northern Brazil, and parts of Venezuela and Colombia. Isolated populations also exist in eastern Brazil, extending into the cerrado and caatinga regions, with records from Bolivia and northeastern Argentina as well.

Behaviours & Reproduction

The Spot-tailed Nightjar is a solitary, crepuscular species, with males establishing and defending display territories during the breeding season. Mating begins with an elaborate aerial courtship display, where the male performs a slow, fluttering flight with exaggerated wingbeats, often followed by a descending glide while producing a soft, mechanical trill. Once paired, the pair does not form a lasting bond; the male’s role is largely limited to courtship and copulation, with the female solely responsible for all subsequent parental care. The female lays a single egg directly on the forest floor, typically on a bed of dead leaves or bare soil, relying on its cryptic coloration to avoid predators. She incubates the egg alone for about 18–20 days, and the precocial chick is capable of moving shortly after hatching. There is no nest construction, and the female uses distraction displays—such as feigning injury—to lure threats away from the egg or chick. This strategy minimizes energy expenditure and reduces the risk of nest predation, a common challenge for ground-nesting birds.

Diet

The Spot-tailed Nightjar is an insectivorous bird that feeds exclusively on a diet of flying insects, which it captures during its crepuscular and nocturnal foraging flights. Its menu primarily consists of moths, beetles, flies, and other small arthropods, which it snatches from the air using its wide mouth and rictal bristles that act as a funnel. An interesting fact about its feeding behavior is that it employs a "sit-and-wait" strategy, perching low on a branch or on the ground before launching into agile, silent pursuit of prey. Additionally, this nightjar has a specialized digestive system with a muscular gizzard that helps break down the hard exoskeletons of beetles, and it periodically regurgitates pellets containing indigestible insect parts, a trait shared with many other nightjars and owls.

Colors

The Spot-tailed Nightjar has cryptic, mottled brown, gray, and black plumage that provides superb camouflage against leaf litter. Its most distinctive feature is the white or buffy spotting on the tail feathers, particularly visible in males, and a narrow white band across the outer primaries. The underparts are finely barred, and the overall coloration blends seamlessly with dry forest floors and savanna habitats.

Distribution Map

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