Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula)

Identification & Behavior: ~20 cm (7.8 in). The Little Nightjar has black scapulars fringed with buff. The wing coverts show rows of buff spots. It has a rufous collar noticeable on the sides and back of the neck. The throat portion of the collar can be whitish (male) or buff (female) and can be difficult to notice. The Little Nightjar has a white thin stripe from the base of the bill through the cheeks. The male has a white band across the primary flight feathers. The female lacks the white band on the wings.  The tail is thinly barred with small white spots only in the male. See, Spot-tailed Nightjar.

Status: The Little Nightjar is rare in the Amazonian lowlands of Madre de Dios, Ucayali, and southern Loreto. Its status in Peru is not well understood. It is widely distributed in the central and western portions of South America and may reach Peru as an Austral migrant. The Little Nightjar also occurs in Co, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Chotacabras Chico.

Sub-species: Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula), Gould, 1837.

Meaning of Name: Setopagis: Gr. Sētos= moth and pagis, pagē= trap, snare. parvula: L. parvus= small, parvulus= very small.

See more of the Family Caprimulgidae