Todd’s Nightjar
Setopagis heterura
Todd's Nightjar (Setopagis heterura) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Todd’s Nightjar (Setopagis heterura) 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 heterura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Todd’s 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 Todd’s Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Todd’s Nightjar (Setopagis heterura) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Colombia and n, c Venezuela.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 9.4 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 304,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Todd’s Nightjar?
The Todd’s Nightjar is a small bird that weighs around 37 g.
Where does the Todd’s Nightjar live?
The Todd’s Nightjar is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Colombia and n, c Venezuela, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Todd’s Nightjar belong to?
The Todd’s Nightjar (Setopagis heterura) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Todd’s Nightjar eat?
The Todd’s Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Todd’s Nightjar migrate?
The Todd’s Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Todd’s 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 Todd’s Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Todd’s 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 Todd’s Nightjar's range?
The Todd’s Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 304,000 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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