Giant nightjar: bird - branch January 22nd, 2014

During the daytime, they sit motionless on tree trunks vertically, with their beaks erect, and due to their color, from a distance they resemble tree branches. Representatives of this family can be found in the tropical parts of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil, as well as in the Antilles.

Scientists divide the family into 7 species, the most common of which is the giant gray nightjar.

Photo 1.

GRAY GIANT Nightjar (Nyctibius griseus) is the most common bird of the Gigantic Nightjar family.

The gray potoo lives from southern Mexico to Argentina and Paraguay, and is also found on some Antilles (except Cuba) and on the island of Trinidad.

The giant gray nightjar is a large bird. Its body length is about 35 cm. The color of the plumage is dominated by gray colors with black spots and stripes. The tail is long, the legs are very short.

Photo 2.

The gray nightjar begins nesting in different parts of its range at different times: in April - in Suriname, in July - in Trinidad, and in Brazil the bird nests in November - December. The bird usually lays its only white egg with markings in a small depression on the top of a broken tree trunk. The nest can be located very low above the ground, sometimes at a height of up to 15 m.

Photo 3.

Unlike other birds, the gray potoo incubates the egg in an upright position, covering its single egg with fluffy breast feathers. The duration of incubation is about a month. The chick is born covered with white down and stays in the nest for a long time, almost two months. On average, from the beginning of incubation of the egg until the chick flies, as a rule, at least 70 days pass.

Photo 4.

Like all other species of gigantic nightjars, the gray potoo leads a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle. It is not easy to notice in the daytime, when it sits motionless, resembling a tree limb, which is also helped by their camouflage protective plumage coloring. When the bird is calm, its head is extended and its closed beak is directed forward; but if she is alarmed or notices an enemy somewhere, then her whole body immediately becomes tense and leans forward a little, the beak opens slightly and stretches straight up. The gray potoo is so confident in its invisibility that you can carefully approach it closely, and sometimes even touch the frozen bird.

Photo 5.

The gray nightjar feeds mainly on insects, which it catches at night in the manner of flycatchers, i.e. sits quietly for some time on a protruding branch, then takes off for prey and returns to its observation post. Its diet is based on beetles, butterflies, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and other invertebrates. The gray nightjar is especially active on moonlit nights, when moonlight helps to hunt. From time to time at night, the giant gray nightjar emits a peculiar abrupt song, vaguely reminiscent of barking.

Photo 6.

It is not easy to notice him in the daytime, when he sits motionless, resembling a tree branch. When the bird is calm, its head is extended and its closed beak is directed forward; but if she is alarmed, then her whole body is tense and slightly leaned forward, the beak is slightly open and directed straight up. You can, by approaching carefully, sometimes even touch the bird. The gray nightjar eats insects, which it catches at night in the manner of flycatchers, i.e. sits quietly for some time on a protruding branch, then takes off for prey and returns to its observation post. Its main food is beetles, hymenoptera, orthoptera, etc. The gray nightjar is especially active on moonlit nights. You can sometimes recognize his presence by his peculiar abrupt “bark.”

Photo 7.

In general, nightjars are a large group of birds, widespread mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe and leading a nocturnal lifestyle. The sizes are relatively small, most species weigh about 100 g, and only the largest representatives of the order - the guajaro - reach the size of a rook and weigh up to 400 g. Males and females are colored the same, and the coloring of nightjars is relatively uniform and in many ways resembles the coloring tree bark various trees. One of the most characteristic features is a short and very wide beak with bristle-like vibrissae at the corners of the mouth - an adaptation for catching insects on the fly at night. The nocturnal lifestyle is also associated with the large size of very sensitive eyes and soft, loose plumage, like that of owls. All nightjars are excellent flyers. Their wings are long and pointed, with 10, less often 11, flight feathers. The tail is also long, with 6 pairs of tail feathers. In flight, nightjars somewhat resemble hawks and partly swallows.

The legs are short, and on the ground these birds move mostly slowly, with awkward jumps. Some nightjars (owl and giant nightjars) have powder spots in the area of ​​the upper tail that produce powdery fluff. Some species that live in deep caves are capable of echolocation. A number of species inhabiting temperate regions have been found to have the ability to fall into torpor with a decrease in body temperature and even hibernate. The distribution of most nightjars is limited to the tropics and subtropics, but individual species in the northern hemisphere they penetrate quite far to the north. Representatives of the order are distributed over all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. There are none in New Zealand, but recently a fossil owl nightjar was discovered there, which was very large in size and lived there in the Miocene.

Photo 8.

Nightjars are monogamous birds. Reproduction begins at the end of the first year of life. Most species do not make nests; the female lays 1-4 eggs, usually white in color, directly on the ground or at the bottom of the hollow. Both parents participate in incubation. The chicks hatch already sighted, covered with thick short down (with the exception of guajaro). However, unlike brood birds, nightjars feed their chicks, and when feeding, the chicks cover the tip of the beak of the feeding bird with their wide beak. The order of nightjars is divided into 2 suborders. In total, the order has 23 genera with 93 species. Only 3 species of the genus Caprimulgus are found in Russia.

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• Class: Aves = Birds
• Order: Caprimulgi, Caprimulgiformes = Nightjars, nightjars
• Suborder: Caprimulgi = Nightjars
• Family: Nyctibiidae = Giant nightjars
• Species: Nyctibius griseus = Gray giant (forest) nightjar, gray potoo

Species: Gray giant (forest) nightjar, gray potoo

GRAY GIANT Nightjar (Nyctibius griseus) is the most common bird of the Gigantic Nightjar family.

The gray potoo lives from southern Mexico to Argentina and Paraguay, and is also found on some Antilles (except Cuba) and on the island of Trinidad.

The gray giant nightjar is a large bird. Its body length is about 35 cm. The color of the plumage is dominated by gray colors with black spots and stripes. The tail is long, the legs are very short.

The gray nightjar begins nesting in different parts of its range at different times: in April - in Suriname, in July - in Trinidad, and in Brazil the bird nests in November - December. The bird usually lays its only white egg with markings in a small depression on the top of a broken tree trunk. The nest can be located very low above the ground, sometimes at a height of up to 15 m.

Unlike other birds, the gray potoo incubates the egg in an upright position, covering its single egg with fluffy breast feathers. The duration of incubation is about a month. The chick is born covered with white down and stays in the nest for a long time, almost two months. On average, from the beginning of incubation of the egg until the chick flies, as a rule, at least 70 days pass.

Like all other species of gigantic nightjars, the gray potoo leads a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle. It is not easy to notice in the daytime, when it sits motionless, resembling a tree limb, which is also helped by their camouflage protective plumage coloring. When the bird is calm, its head is extended and its closed beak is directed forward; but if she is alarmed or notices an enemy somewhere, then her whole body immediately becomes tense and leans forward a little, the beak opens slightly and stretches straight up. The gray potoo is so confident in its invisibility that you can carefully approach it closely, and sometimes even touch the frozen bird.

The gray nightjar feeds mainly on insects, which it catches at night in the manner of flycatchers, i.e. sits quietly for some time on a protruding branch, then takes off for prey and returns to its observation post. Its diet is based on beetles, butterflies, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and other invertebrates. The gray nightjar is especially active on moonlit nights, when moonlight helps to hunt. From time to time at night, the giant gray nightjar emits a peculiar abrupt song, vaguely reminiscent of barking.

The giant wood nightjar is a South American species of bird belonging to the order Nightjars.

Nightjars got their strange name because they have the habit of hunting insects near sheep, cows or goats, deftly flying between the hooves or under the belly of the animals.

Appearance of a gigantic forest nightjar

The gigantic gray nightjar is a large bird, in its own way appearance reminiscent of European nightjars.

The body length of the gigantic nightjar can reach 55 cm, and the weight can reach up to 230 g. The wingspan is about 125 cm, the tail - up to 27 cm, and the wing - up to 40 cm.

The plumage is mostly gray and has black stripes and spots. The bird's legs are very short and its tail is long. In general, nightjars are a fairly large group of birds, which are widespread in various regions of the globe (mainly tropical and subtropical) and are nocturnal. In contrast to the gigantic forest nightjar, the majority of species weigh only about one hundred grams, and only the largest representatives of this order can reach the size of a rook and weigh up to four hundred grams.

Both female and male nightjars are colored the same. At the same time, the coloring of nightjars does not differ in variety and very much resembles the color of the bark of a particular tree. In the upper part of the body, the plumage is dotted on a black and white background with dark and very thin transverse lines in the shape of zigzags. The ends of the feathers have rusty-brown edges. There are also dark rod stripes.

The legs of the gigantic forest nightjar are yellowish-gray, the eyes are dark brown, and the beak is gray with a yellowish-horny tint.

One of the characteristic features of the nightjar is a short beak of very large width, which has bristle-like vibrissae at the corners of the mouth, which are a kind of adaptation for catching insects on the fly at night.

The nightjar's eyes are very sensitive and large in size, which is also associated with a nocturnal lifestyle, as is the loose, soft plumage like an owl.

Nightjars are excellent flyers; they have pointed long wings with ten or, somewhat less commonly, eleven flight feathers. The tail is also long and has six pairs of tail feathers.

Flying nightjars have a noticeable resemblance to hawks and somewhat less to swallows.

The nightjar's legs are short and, once on the ground, their movements are characterized by low speed and clumsiness. They mostly move along the ground in awkward, slow hops. In the area of ​​the upper tail, the gigantic nightjar has powders that produce powdery fluff.

Distribution of the gigantic forest nightjar

It is assumed that this bird is found in all forests of the South American continent. In any case, it was possible to catch it both in Paraguay and in Cayenne. Apparently, this bird is more common than was commonly thought, but it is very difficult to see it during the day, and it is not easy to do so at night. Moreover, nightjars have mastered the art of camouflage to perfection. The plumage, similar to the color of tree bark, reliably protects it from the eyes of enemies, and at the same time from the eyes of ornithologists. The gigantic gray nightjar is even more difficult to spot due to its ability to remain motionless for long periods of time.

Behavior of the gigantic forest nightjar

According to the observations of ornithologists, the gigantic forest nightjar chooses the ends of dried branches as a place for its sitting. At the same time, he sits down so that his head hangs further than the end of the branch, making the branch seem longer than it actually is. However, despite this or, conversely, because of this, it is extremely difficult to notice the bird. However, if you still managed to notice the nightjar, then you can get the sleeping bird almost without effort, unless it has climbed too high to rest.

From the notes of ornithologists it is known that the inhabitants of Paraguay catch the gigantic forest nightjars at noon, throwing a noose over their heads and pulling them from the tree. There are also references that at this time of day nightjars may not even react to the sound of a shot. Moreover, it was sometimes impossible to drive the nightjar away from its chosen resting place, even after ruffling its feathers with a shot. Some nightjars were knocked off the branches by simply throwing a stone or even a stick at it. At the same time, a nightjar driven from its place can easily return to its favorite place after some time, without fear of a second attack.

At dusk, this bird behaves completely differently. At this time of day, the gigantic forest nightjar is as active and dexterous as other nightjars.

However, there are reports that gigantic nightjars can hunt during the daytime, acting as follows: from time to time the bird opens its mouth, thereby luring flies, which willingly land on the sticky mucous membrane. And when the number of insects became large enough, the nightjar closed its mouth and swallowed the prey. After some time, the hunt resumed, but the bird's eyes remained closed all the time. However, when the observer touched the bird, it immediately flew away.

A hunting gigantic forest nightjar sits on the ground very rarely, but if this does happen, then they can, spreading their wings, lean on them, as well as on their tail, almost without the help of their legs. Nightjars are especially active in moonlight. At night, they sometimes emit prolonged calling calls, clear and deep, decreasing in both volume and height.

Reproduction of the gigantic forest nightjar

There is only one egg in a nightjar's nest. The chicks are born fully sighted and dressed in thick motley down, which perfectly camouflages the chick in the nest. The only element that gives the chick away is the white egg shell. However, it is thanks to him that the parents manage to find their offspring in the dark forest. The chick flies on its wings after a few weeks, but its parents continue to feed it for some time.

Diet of the gigantic forest nightjar

The main food of the gigantic forest nightjar is various insects, which it hunts at night, just as flycatchers do. That is, for some time he sits on a protruding branch, and then, taking off for prey, he returns back to his observation post.

Its diet consists mainly of butterflies, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and other invertebrates.

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Chupacabra or Giant Nightjar January 23rd, 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightjar
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caprimulgidae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra
The chupacabra (Spanish pronunciation: , from chupar "to suck" and cabra "goat", literally "goat sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas, with the first sightings reported in Puerto Rico. The name comes from the animal"s reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats.

Originally posted by masterok at Giant nightjar: bird - branch

During the daytime, they sit motionless on tree trunks vertically, with their beaks erect, and due to their color, from a distance they resemble tree branches. Representatives of this family can be found in the tropical parts of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil, as well as in the Antilles. Scientists divide the family into 7 species, the most common of which is the giant gray nightjar.

GRAY GIANT Nightjar (Nyctibius griseus) is the most common bird of the Gigantic Nightjar family.

The gray potoo lives from southern Mexico to Argentina and Paraguay, and is also found on some Antilles (except Cuba) and on the island of Trinidad.

The giant gray nightjar is a large bird. Its body length is about 35 cm. The color of the plumage is dominated by gray colors with black spots and stripes. The tail is long, the legs are very short.

The gray nightjar begins nesting in different parts of its range at different times: in April - in Suriname, in July - in Trinidad, and in Brazil the bird nests in November - December. The bird usually lays its only white egg with markings in a small depression on the top of a broken tree trunk. The nest can be located very low above the ground, sometimes at a height of up to 15 m.

Unlike other birds, the gray potoo incubates the egg in an upright position, covering its single egg with fluffy breast feathers. The duration of incubation is about a month. The chick is born covered with white down and stays in the nest for a long time, almost two months. On average, from the beginning of incubation of the egg until the chick flies, as a rule, at least 70 days pass.

Like all other species of gigantic nightjars, the gray potoo leads a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle. It is not easy to notice in the daytime, when it sits motionless, resembling a tree limb, which is also helped by their camouflage protective plumage coloring. When the bird is calm, its head is extended and its closed beak is directed forward; but if she is alarmed or notices an enemy somewhere, then her whole body immediately becomes tense and leans forward a little, the beak opens slightly and stretches straight up. The gray potoo is so confident in its invisibility that you can carefully approach it closely, and sometimes even touch the frozen bird.

The gray nightjar feeds mainly on insects, which it catches at night in the manner of flycatchers, i.e. sits quietly for some time on a protruding branch, then takes off for prey and returns to its observation post. Its diet is based on beetles, butterflies, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and other invertebrates. The gray nightjar is especially active on moonlit nights, when moonlight helps to hunt. From time to time at night, the giant gray nightjar emits a peculiar abrupt song, vaguely reminiscent of barking.

It is not easy to notice him in the daytime, when he sits motionless, resembling a tree branch. When the bird is calm, its head is extended and its closed beak is directed forward; but if she is alarmed, then her whole body is tense and slightly leaned forward, the beak is slightly open and directed straight up. You can, by approaching carefully, sometimes even touch the bird. The gray nightjar eats insects, which it catches at night in the manner of flycatchers, i.e. sits quietly for some time on a protruding branch, then takes off for prey and returns to its observation post. Its main food is beetles, hymenoptera, orthoptera, etc. The gray nightjar is especially active on moonlit nights. You can sometimes recognize his presence by his peculiar abrupt “bark.”

In general, nightjars are a large group of birds, widespread mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe and leading a nocturnal lifestyle. The sizes are relatively small, most species weigh about 100 g, and only the largest representatives of the order - the guajaro - reach the size of a rook and weigh up to 400 g. Males and females are colored the same, and the color of nightjars is relatively uniform and in many ways resembles the color of the bark of various trees . One of the most characteristic features is a short and very wide beak with bristle-like vibrissae at the corners of the mouth - an adaptation for catching insects on the fly at night. The nocturnal lifestyle is also associated with the large size of very sensitive eyes and soft, loose plumage, like that of owls. All nightjars are excellent flyers. Their wings are long and pointed, with 10, less often 11, flight feathers. The tail is also long, with 6 pairs of tail feathers. In flight, nightjars somewhat resemble hawks and partly swallows.

The legs are short, and on the ground these birds move mostly slowly, with awkward jumps. Some nightjars (owl and giant nightjars) have powder spots in the area of ​​the upper tail that produce powdery fluff. Some species that live in deep caves are capable of echolocation. A number of species inhabiting temperate regions have been found to have the ability to fall into torpor with a decrease in body temperature and even hibernate. The distribution of most nightjars is limited to the tropics and subtropics, but some species in the northern hemisphere penetrate quite far to the north. Representatives of the order are distributed over all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. There are none in New Zealand, but recently a fossil owl nightjar was discovered there, which was very large in size and lived there in the Miocene.

Nightjars are monogamous birds. Reproduction begins at the end of the first year of life. Most species do not make nests; the female lays 1-4 eggs, usually white in color, directly on the ground or at the bottom of the hollow. Both parents participate in incubation. The chicks hatch already sighted, covered with thick short down (with the exception of guajaro). However, unlike brood birds, nightjars feed their chicks, and when feeding, the chicks cover the tip of the beak of the feeding bird with their wide beak. The order of nightjars is divided into 2 suborders. In total, the order has 23 genera with 93 species. Only 3 species of the genus Caprimulgus are found in Russia.