Photo: The Lilac Breasted Roller / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Oilbird
Steatornis caripensis
Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
See what's near you right nowThe Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) is a member of the Steatornithidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 408 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 Steatornithiformes
- Family Steatornithidae Oilbird
- Genus Steatornis
- Species caripensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 408 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Steatornithidae
- Order
- Steatornithiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Oilbird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Oilbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) belongs to the Steatornithidae family of the order Steatornithiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Panama to n, nw.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 408 g, with a wing length of about 30.8 cm and a tail of around 20 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 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Oilbird?
The Oilbird is a large bird that weighs around 408 g.
Where does the Oilbird live?
The Oilbird is found across South America with a range covering SA Panama to n, nw, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Oilbird belong to?
The Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) belongs to the Steatornithidae family, in the order Steatornithiformes.
What does the Oilbird eat?
The Oilbird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Oilbird migrate?
The Oilbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Oilbird 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 Oilbird make?
1 real field recording of the Oilbird — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Oilbird's range?
The Oilbird has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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