Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Antrostomus sericocaudatus
Silky-tailed Nightjar (Antrostomus sericocaudatus) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Silky-tailed Nightjar (Antrostomus sericocaudatus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 83 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 Antrostomus
- Species sericocaudatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 83 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Silky-tailed Nightjar (Antrostomus sericocaudatus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 83 g, with a wing length of about 16.1 cm and a tail of around 12.3 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 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Silky-tailed Nightjar?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 83 g.
Where does the Silky-tailed Nightjar live?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is found across South America with a range covering SA widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Silky-tailed Nightjar belong to?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar (Antrostomus sericocaudatus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Silky-tailed Nightjar eat?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Silky-tailed Nightjar migrate?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Silky-tailed Nightjar 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 Silky-tailed Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Silky-tailed Nightjar — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Silky-tailed Nightjar's range?
The Silky-tailed Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Caprimulgidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Nightjars & Allies
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern