Common Pauraque
Nyctidromus albicollis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCaprimulgiformes (Nightjars and Allies)
- FamilyCaprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
- GenusNyctidromus (Common Pauraque and Scrub Nightjar)
- SpeciesNyctidromus albicollis (Common Pauraque)
About the Common Pauraque
The pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) – also called the common pauraque to distinguish it from similar species – is a nightjar species, one of two birds in the genus Nyctidromus. It breeds in the subtropical and tropical regions of the New World, and except for northernmost birds it is largely resident all year round.
The pauraque was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other nightjars in the genus Caprimulgus and coined the binomial name Caprimulgus albicollis. Gmelin based his description on the "white-throated goatsucker" that had been described in 1783 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham had examined a preserved specimen in London that was thought to have come from Cayenne, French Guiana. The pauraque is now placed with Anthony's nightjar in the genus Nyctidromus that was introduced in 1838 by the English ornithologist John Gould. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek nukti- meaning "nocturnal" or "night-" with -dromos meaning "-racer". The specific epithet albicollis combines... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Pauraque in Serra da Canastra National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Serra da Canastra National Park
Least Nighthawk
Chordeiles pusillus
Scissor-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis torquata
Band-winged Nightjar
Systellura longirostris
Sickle-winged Nightjar
Eleothreptus anomalus
Rufous Nightjar
Antrostomus rufus
Ocellated Poorwill
Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Lurocalis semitorquatus
Lesser Nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis
Little Nightjar
Setopagis parvula
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Pauraque in Serra da Canastra National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Pauraque sighting in Serra da Canastra National Park, based on 51 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Pauraque in Serra da Canastra National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Common Pauraque in Serra da Canastra National Park in our monthly data.