The ladder-tailed nightjar is a species of bird in the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is one of four species in the genus, Hydropsalis. It is found in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, the Guianas, Suriname, and also Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia; it is also in Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, and freshwater lakes.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Occurs widely along major waterways of the Amazon Basin, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela, and extends into the Guianas and Suriname. Most frequently found on sandy riverbanks, islands, and the margins of oxbow lakes. It favors open or sparsely vegetated shrubland near water, avoiding dense interior forest. During the day it roosts on sandbars, driftwood, or low ground where its mottled plumage blends with substrate.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This nocturnal nightjar is strongly tied to large rivers, often roosting and nesting directly on sandy river islands and shorelines. Its name refers to the tail pattern, which shows pale bars like the rungs of a ladder; males have more striking white in the tail than females. It hawks insects low over water at dusk and dawn and relies on superb camouflage to avoid detection by day. The species lays its eggs on bare ground without a built nest.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
low, buoyant flight with short rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs along river edges. Breeds on open sand or gravel without a constructed nest, typically laying 1–2 eggs; both parents attend. Territorial displays include tail fanning and soft wing flicks, especially at dusk near favored sandbars.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
At dusk and night it gives a soft, repetitive series of whistles and trills, often delivered from the ground or low perches along riverbanks. In flight, it also emits sharp chip notes during foraging passes.
