Nacunda Nighthawk: Habitat And Behavior
The nacunda nighthawk is a bird known by many names in South America and belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, which includes several species.
Habitat of the nacunda nighthawk
There are many species of nacunda nighthawk found throughout the American and European continent, and some can also be found in parts of Asia and Africa. The ñacundá , in particular, can be seen in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and parts of Argentina.
This bird lives in forests, savannah, swamps and grasslands, although it is also found on the banks of rivers, in coastal areas and in xerophytic environments. It is usually found in open and airy places, in warm and moderate altitude areas, not in mountainous areas.
It is very typical to see it perched on wires at night, dazzled by car headlights, which is why many are often run over. It mostly roams among extensive crops where nocturnal flying insects abound.
Generally they remain solitary or in pairs, but being a migratory species it is not unusual to see them in groups of hundreds of specimens.
Physical characteristics of the nacunda nighthawk
It is a sturdy bird, about 30 centimeters long, with a short tail and long, rounded wings. The head is flat and small, with a small beak but with a large mouth that opens in flight to hunt. The eyes are black and very large, adapted to the night life.
Plumage is the key to their survival. Thanks to it, they blend perfectly with the landscape. The legs are short and the body is sandy, with contrasting black dots and a white belly and throat. When in flight, a white spot can be seen inside the wings. Males also have white spots on the tip of the tail.
In addition, nacunda nighthawks have very prominent whiskers or whiskers, with which they perceive vibrations, just like the whiskers of cats.
Behavior
The nacunda nighthawk, like the rest of the birds that make up its family, is insectivorous, with crepuscular and nocturnal habits. He spends the day perched on the ground, without moving. In fact it is difficult to see because it blends so well with the surrounding environment that it is practically impossible to see it.
Its flight is low and irregular, because it hunts the insects it eats: beetles, ants, dragonflies, crickets, moths, homoptera, scissors and mosquitoes. It also takes advantage of artificial lights that attract insects. In addition, its plumage is adapted to stealthy flight, undetectable by its prey.
Nacunda nighthawks emit a very loud and repetitive characteristic sound when on the ground; many times they are identified by man for this reason.
Courtship and reproduction
The courtship and mating season changes according to the region. These birds do not build nests, but lay eggs on the ground, generally few, at most two per year.
The female takes care of the laying and rearing of the chicks. When the male finishes feeding the chicks of the first brood, the female is already incubating the second.
Indigenous peoples of South America believe they can drink goat’s milk by sucking directly from the udder. Although this is not true, it is true that they usually accompany the herds at dusk to feed on the insects they find in their path.
The ñacundá when they see that their nest is threatened, they make short flights and messy to make it appear to be injured and to be easy prey. In this way they distract the possible predator from their nest, which is particularly vulnerable because it is on the ground.
Without a doubt, it is a very interesting bird, thanks to its ability to blend in and its way of hunting. The best way to observe it is to wait for the sunset and watch the ground carefully.
