Photo: Jairmoreirafotografia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Nightjar
Setopagis parvula
Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 37 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 Setopagis
- Species parvula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Little Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA e Peru to e Brazil, s to c Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37 g, with a wing length of about 13.3 cm and a tail of around 9.5 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 6.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Nightjar?
The Little Nightjar is a small bird that weighs around 37 g.
Where does the Little Nightjar live?
The Little Nightjar is found across South America with a range covering SA e Peru to e Brazil, s to c Argentina and Uruguay, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Little Nightjar belong to?
The Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Little Nightjar eat?
The Little Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Little Nightjar migrate?
The Little Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Little 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 Little Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Nightjar's range?
The Little Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 6.8 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.
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