Photo: Nigel Voaden / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eared Poorwill
Nyctiphrynus mcleodii
Eared Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii) — Nightjars & Allies of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eared Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 35 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Nyctiphrynus
- Species mcleodii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eared Poorwill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eared Poorwill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eared Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA w Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35 g, with a wing length of about 12.1 cm and a tail of around 10.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 188,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eared Poorwill?
The Eared Poorwill is a small bird that weighs around 35 g.
Where does the Eared Poorwill live?
The Eared Poorwill is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA w Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Eared Poorwill belong to?
The Eared Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Eared Poorwill eat?
The Eared Poorwill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eared Poorwill migrate?
The Eared Poorwill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eared Poorwill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eared Poorwill make?
1 real field recording of the Eared Poorwill — including its dawn song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eared Poorwill's range?
The Eared Poorwill has a mapped global range of about 188,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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