Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

The Short-tailed Nighthawk, a rather large member of the nightjar family, is distinguished by its notably short tail. It measures between 19 to 21 cm in length, with a dark brown to blackish plumage adorned with rufous and buff spots and speckles. This bird's wings are similarly dark with muted spots, lacking the bold white markings typical of many nighthawks. Its tail features brown with tawny or grayish bars and a subtle buffy or whitish band at the end.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Short-tailed Nighthawk, look for its dark upperparts with intricate patterns of spots and speckles. The white throat contrasts with the dark chin, while the lower breast is buff with brown bars, transitioning to a tawny buff belly and flanks. The absence of prominent white wing patches is a key distinguishing feature.

Habitat

This species thrives in lowland evergreen forests but is also known to inhabit more open areas such as clearings, river edges, old cacao plantations, and secondary forests that have begun to regrow.

Distribution

The Short-tailed Nighthawk has a broad range across Central and northern South America, from Mexico to northern Argentina. It is absent from El Salvador, Chile, and Uruguay.

Behaviour

These birds are typically solitary or found in pairs, occasionally forming small flocks. They exhibit a rapid and erratic flight pattern reminiscent of bats and roost in trees, aligning themselves along thick branches.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Short-tailed Nighthawk vary among subspecies. Descriptions range from a repeated "ewIT" to a sharp "g'wik" or "gweek," emitted both while perched and in flight.

Breeding

Unique among their family, Short-tailed Nighthawks nest in trees, laying a single egg directly on a large horizontal branch without constructing a traditional nest.

Similar Species

The Rufous-bellied Nighthawk was once considered a subspecies but is now recognized as a separate species. It shares the genus Lurocalis with the Short-tailed Nighthawk.

Diet and Feeding

As aerial insectivores, Short-tailed Nighthawks feed primarily on beetles and true bugs, foraging mostly at dusk. Their diet, however, has not been extensively studied.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Short-tailed Nighthawk as Least Concern, with a large range and population. Although the population is believed to be decreasing, the species faces no significant threats beyond localized deforestation.

Short-tailed Nighthawk Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Short-tailed Nighthawks on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
🦅
Mathieu S.
07 Aug 2024 - 10:13am
Peru

More Nightjars

A photo of a Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis)

Chuck-will's-widow

Antrostomus carolinensis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.