The least poorwill or least pauraque is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae, and the only confirmed extant species of its genus. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Region
Hispaniola, Greater Antilles
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in dry to semi-arid habitats across Hispaniola, including thorn scrub, dry broadleaf woodland, and limestone karst with sparse understory. Prefers areas with open ground and leaf litter for roosting and foraging, often near forest edges, tracks, and clearings. It can also be found in mixed woodland-mosaic landscapes and locally in foothill slopes. Dense, humid forests are generally avoided.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the least pauraque, it is the only confirmed extant member of the genus Siphonorhis. This small nightjar is highly cryptic, roosting on leaf litter by day and relying on camouflage to avoid detection. It is nocturnal and easily overlooked, often detected only by its soft, repetitive calls at dusk. Habitat loss and introduced predators are key threats on Hispaniola.
Temperament
secretive and crepuscular
Flight Pattern
short, silent fluttering with low buoyant passes
Social Behavior
Mostly solitary outside the breeding period. Nests directly on the ground, usually laying one to two eggs on leaf litter without a built nest. Both parents participate in incubation and chick care, relying on camouflage and stillness to avoid predators. Displays and calling intensify at dusk during the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, repetitive series of whistles and low trills delivered at dusk and during the night. Calls often carry only a short distance and can be easily masked by insect sounds. When disturbed, it may give a quiet churring note as it flushes.
Plumage
Finely mottled and barred brown, grey, and buff with a cryptic, leaf-litter pattern. Feathers show intricate marbling that breaks up the outline when on the ground.
Diet
Feeds primarily on flying insects such as moths, beetles, and orthopterans. It sallies from the ground or low perches to catch prey in short, agile flights. The wide, bristled mouth helps funnel insects during aerial hawking. Foraging bouts are often interspersed with long periods of motionless waiting.
Preferred Environment
Forages along open woodland edges, paths, and clearings where insects are abundant. Often hunts low over leaf litter and open patches within dry scrub and thorn forest. Road edges and gaps in vegetation are frequently used as hawking corridors.
