The blackish nightjar is a species of bird in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield, northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across lowland Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Prefers open, sparsely vegetated habitats such as sandy riverbanks, gravel bars, white-sand campinas, and rocky outcrops near forest edges. Also uses roadsides, clearings, and other disturbed open ground within otherwise forested landscapes. Roosts and nests directly on bare ground, relying on camouflage. Activity peaks around dusk and dawn, with nocturnal foraging over open areas.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A cryptic, ground-roosting nightjar of the Amazon and Guiana Shield, it relies on mottled dark plumage to blend with sandbars, gravel flats, and rocky outcrops. It often sits motionless by day and becomes active at dusk, sallying out to catch flying insects. Nests are simple scrapes on bare ground, typically with a single egg. Its soft, repetitive calls carry at twilight along rivers and open clearings.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, buoyant sallies
Social Behavior
Usually roosts alone or in pairs on open ground, often returning to favored spots. Breeding involves a simple ground scrape on sand or gravel, typically with a single egg and minimal nesting material. Adults rely on camouflage and distraction displays to protect the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, repetitive churring or trilled series delivered at dusk and night from the ground or low perches. Also gives sharp tsip or tic contact notes during foraging flights.
