Band-tailed nighthawk

The band-tailed nighthawk was formally described and illustrated in 1825 by the German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix under the binomial name Caprimulgus leucopygus. Spix specified the habitat as the wooded shores of the Amazon. The specific epithet is derived from Ancient Greek λευκοπυγος/leukopugos meaning "with white rear", from λευκος/leukos meaning "white" and -πυγος/-pugos meaning "-rumped". The band-tailed nighthawk is now placed together with the plain-tailed nighthawk in the genus Nyctiprogne that was introduced in 1847 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte. Subspecies There are 5 recognized subspecies which differ in size, colour and vocalizations. The subspecies N. l. latifascia has been suggested to be a separate species. • N. l. exigua Friedmann, 1945 – east Colombia and south Venezuela. Smaller and has darker that the nominate. • N. l. pallida Phelps, WH & Phelps, WH Jr, 1952 – northeast Colombia and west, central Venezuela. Paler upperparts than the nominate. • N. l. leucopyga (Spix, 1825) – east Venezuela, the Guianas and north Brazil • N. l. latifascia Friedmann, 1945 – extreme south Venezuela • N. l. majuscula Pinto & Camargo, 1952 – northeast Peru, north, east Bolivia and west, central Brazil. Largest of the subspecies, paler with white underparts. == Description ==

The band-tailed nighthawks is a small species, with a body length of 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in), Adults weigh from 0.023 to 0.028 kg (0.051 to 0.062 lb). The female has a larger average weight and wingspan than the male. The bill is very wide but short, with a length of 0.9 to 0.97 cm (0.35 to 0.38 in), and is hooked at the tip. It has a black bill, dark brown irises, and pinkish-gray tarsus and feet. The tarsus lengths are generally short, from 1.18 to 1.24 cm (0.46 to 0.49 in). It has white patches on either side of the throat, and a white band on the mid-tail, across its three outermost tail feathers. The tail itself is short, and somewhat forked, at 8.2 to 9.7 cm (3.2 to 3.8 in). It has very weak sexual dimorphism, with both sexes presenting similar plumage and colouring. The immature and juvenile phases are also similar to the mature adult, although are slightly more plain and paler. == Distribution and habitat ==

The band-tailed nighthawk has a large range, although there are gaps in its distribution. It is located through much of the northern parts of South America, from east of the Andes to Venezuela and central Brazil. It is found from northern Venezuela and eastern Colombia, east to French Guiana and eastern Brazil. Its range then extends south to northern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay. It is also found in Peru, Ecuador, and Guyana. == Behaviour and ecology ==

The band-tailed nighthawk is a nocturnal species, and is the most active during the late evening, early morning, and at night. During the day, it roosts near the ground in locations with dense thickets of bushes and trees. amongst other arthropods. It forages in continuous flight, with rapid, shallow wingbeats and gliding to keep it aloft. It feeds mostly at dusk, when there are high amounts of flying insects. Feeding occurs around sunset and stops once it becomes too dark for the bird to see its prey, and then occurs once more just before dawn. In between feeding sessions, it roosts in the same area, on thin horizontal branches close to vegetation and water. The band-tailed nighthawk roosts perpendicular to the branch, either by itself or in groups of 2-10 individuals. Vocalizations Few vocalizations have been recorded for the band-tailed nighthawk. It has a gole-kwoik-kwak call that is at a similar pitch to a frog's ribbit, and is repeated steadily and at a low, subtle volume; it is considered a territorial call. == Conservation and management ==

The IUCN Red List lists the status of the band-tailed nighthawk as of Least Concern. While Amazonian deforestation is predicted to cause a decrease in its population, it has a large geographic range and is a fairly common species. ==References==