Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra)

Order: Apodiformes Family: Caprimulgidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

lyre-tailed_nightjar
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Southeast Peru

lyre-tailed_nightjar
Age: Adult  | Sex: Male | Loc. Eastern Andes, Colombia

lyre-tailed_nightjar
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Southeast Peru

lyre-tailed_nightjar
Age: Adult  | Sex: Male | Loc. Eastern Andes, Colombia


Identification & Behavior: ~100 cm (39.3 in). (male) 24 cm (9.4 in). (female). The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is overall blackish and gray with an intricate pattern of vermiculation, spots, and mottles in shades of black, buff, and gray. Both sexes have a rufous collar more prominent on the sides and back of the neck. The male has very long tail feathers with dark webbing on the outer edge. The female has a barred notched tail. It is similar to the smaller Swallow-tailed Nightjar but is distinguished by ranging at lower elevations, and by an overall gray and blackish plumage and crown. The wings are dusky without pale wing bands.

Status: The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is uncommon to rare in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1300-2400 m. It also occurs at similar elevations in the humid forest of Piura and Cajamarca on the west slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Chotacabras Cola de Lira.

Sub-species: Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra peruana), Berlepsch and Stolzmann, 1906.

Meaning of Name: Uropsalis: Gr. Oura= tail and psalidos= pair of scissors, shears. lyra: L. lura= lyre.

See more of the Family Caprimulgidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
lyre-tailed_nightjarVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.