Birdsong field guide
Common Pauraque
Nyctidromus albicollis
A medium-sized, nocturnal Neotropical nightjar known for its cryptic plumage and the distinctive white bands on its wings and outer tail feathers.
What it sounds like
A loud, burry, ascending whistle often transcribed as 'pau-rau-quee' or 'who-are-you'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The Common Pauraque has unusually long legs for a nightjar, enabling it to run quickly across the ground to capture terrestrial insects.
- Its name is onomatopoeic, mimicking the bird's rhythmic and rising nocturnal whistle.
- It possesses a specialized reflective layer behind the retina called a tapetum lucidum, which produces a brilliant orange-red eyeshine in artificial light.
- This species does not construct a nest; instead, it lays its eggs directly on the forest floor, relying on the parents' camouflage to avoid detection.
- Unlike many migratory nightjars, the Common Pauraque is largely sedentary throughout its expansive range in the Americas.
Habitat
Secondary forests, scrublands, woodland edges, and agricultural clearings with leaf-littered floors.
Range
Southern Texas and Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina and southern Brazil.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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