Within the Americas, nightjars are some of our most mysterious—and, let’s be sincere, freaky-looking—birds. However nighthawks and whip-poor-wills aren’t the one bristled and bug-eyed nocturnal birds on Earth. Learn on to study their entrancing cousins (in a single case, extraordinarily distant cousins). They might be nightjar lookalikes, however their bizarre qualities are all their very own.
Potoos
You’d be fortunate to catch a glimpse of any of those species, however even in full daylight, potoos are
powerful to identify. Present in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, a perched potoo—with its mottled brown feathers and upright posture—makes a really convincing lichen-covered department. Stick round after darkish, although, and also you simply would possibly hear the birds sing.
Frogmouths
These chunky predators of Australia and South and Southeast Asia are a drive to be reckoned with. They catch their nocturnal prey, which incorporates bugs, lizards, and even rodents, with an ambush. If vital, they’ll beat their quarry in opposition to one thing onerous earlier than swallowing it down their prodigious gullets.
Oilbirds
The one species of their order, Oilbirds might nicely have been known as “Batbirds:” They nest in colonies inside caves in northern and western South America, Central America, and Trinidad and might even echolocate. Unique fruit eaters, Oilbirds even have distinctive senses of sight and odor, which assist them find their meals.
Owlet-Nightjars
Regardless of their identify—and, you realize, every thing about them—owlet-nightjars are extra intently associated to swifts and hummingbirds than to the remainder of these oddballs. Elusive and understudied of their house vary of Australia and New Guinea, a lot of their conduct stays a thriller.
This story initially ran within the Summer season 2026 concern. To obtain our print journal, turn out to be a member by making a donation today.
