Ladder-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis climacocerca
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCaprimulgiformes (Nightjars and Allies)
- FamilyCaprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
- GenusHydropsalis (Fork-tailed Nightjars)
- SpeciesHydropsalis climacocerca (Ladder-tailed Nightjar)
About the Ladder-tailed Nightjar
The ladder-tailed nightjar (Hydropsalis climacocerca) is a species of bird in the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is one of four species in the genus, Hydropsalis. It is found in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, the Guianas, Suriname, and also Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia; it is also in Venezuela.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, and freshwater lakes. This bird is highly camouflaged and has the colors of 'ground cover', as do most of the nightjars. The colors are broken with white patches, grays, both dark, and light, and some brown, especially around the neck and head. Many of the nightjar species also have the distraction display, which helps lead unwary predators farther distances from the nest, young, or eggs.
As a species that hunts airborne insects at night, it has large eyes and a large wide gape to allow this feeding strategy. The ladder-tailed nightjar was formally described in 1844 by the Swiss naturalist Johann Jakob von Tschudi under the binomial name Caprimulgus climacocercus based on a specimen collected in Peru. The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek κλιμαξ/klimax, κλιμακος/klimakos meaning... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Ladder-tailed Nightjar in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Common Pauraque
Nyctidromus albicollis
Sand-colored Nighthawk
Chordeiles rupestris
Blackish Nightjar
Nyctipolus nigrescens
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Lurocalis semitorquatus
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Ocellated Poorwill
Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Lesser Nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 7 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 8 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 9 | Cordillera Azul National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 10 | Amboró National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ladder-tailed Nightjar in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ladder-tailed Nightjar sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 682 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ladder-tailed Nightjar in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
August has the highest sighting rate for Ladder-tailed Nightjar in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in our monthly data.