Photo: Michael Woodruff / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Uropsalis lyra
Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) — 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 Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 71.2 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 Uropsalis
- Species lyra
Quick facts
- Weight
- 71.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar 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 Lyre-tailed Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to s Bolivia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 71.2 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 68.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 232,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lyre-tailed Nightjar?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 71.2 g.
Where does the Lyre-tailed Nightjar live?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to s Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Lyre-tailed Nightjar belong to?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Lyre-tailed Nightjar eat?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lyre-tailed Nightjar migrate?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lyre-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 Lyre-tailed Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Lyre-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 Lyre-tailed Nightjar's range?
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 232,000 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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