Introduction
Little is known about the Sickle-winged Nightjar What is known is that it is
Appearance/History
The Sickle-winged Nightjar is a nocturnal bird that has a small population causing it to be considered Near Threatened. The population is slowly declining due to degradation and habitat loss.
As the size of a commonly known average sparrow, which is relatively small, the sickle-winged nightjar measures 7.1 – 7.9 inches and this is including its tail feathers. The bristles around their eyes and beaks are called rictal bristles, these are generally fairly long. The legs, tarsi, and partially covered in feathers that match the feathers on the rest of their body to aid in the camouflage appearance they possess. The males and females have some distinct differences in the appearance. The female nightjar will most likely have longer wings and tales whereas the male will have a much different wing shape. The females wing feathers are tipped buffish white with the base being of a brown narred tawny color. The young hatchlings and immature nightjar juveniles will resemble more of a female until maturity. The male sickle-winged nightjar is described to sometimes have a buffish collar on his hindneck while the rest of his body
Males have greyish-brown, cinnamon-tinged, cryptic plumages with an occasional buffish collar on the hindneck. There is a pale buffish-white stripe above each eye and a greyish-white submoustachial stripe. There is a pale patch on the closed wing, and the scapulars (shoulder feathers) have distinctive blackish markings that are shaped like an inverted Christmas tree. The primary wing feathers are strongly curved and largely blackish; the outer six wing feathers are boldly tipped whitish. The secondary wing feathers are very short and together with the curved primary wing feathers form the unique wing shape resembling a "sickle" — a hand-held agricultural tool with a curved blade – hence its common name. Males use these curved flight feathers to produce a flapping sound during territorial and courtship display flights.
Demographics/ Range
Habitat
Diet/Forging
The sickle-winged nightjar is an insectivorous diet, meaning they feed on insects, worms, and ants including moths and some small beetles, however there is not much more information on their diet. As the nightjar flutters and glides through the air it is also forging for its food. Typically, the nightjar forgages for its food during its most active time which is during dawn and dusk. Flying with their mouths in a gaping open position, the nightjar catch the insects hovering street lamps and livestock in which attract insects and make for a prime foraging area for the nightjar during dusk. Unlike the adult nightjar the juvenile nightjar will make short low flights or hop around on the ground to forage for its food until it is fully mature enough to forage in flight.
Behavior/ Vocalizations
The sickle-winged Nightjar is nocturnal and appears and becomes active during the night time (crepuscular). While birds make vocal sounds the male nightjar also makes sounds with its wings. These sounds are a very distinct flapping noise. They also use their wings during courtship this sound is described as a muffled thudding sound. During the night time hours when other nocturnal lifestyle animals, such as owls are hunting for their food, they will prey on the nightjar. The nightjar wil avoid making and vocalizations, will sit very still and could possibly even relocate their eggs and/or young in an attempt to avoid the predator.
Breeding/Reproduction
With the Nightjar being nocturnal, the male sings during the night to establish its Territory and to other males away as well as to attract the female nightjar. Unlike most birds, that build nests to lay their eggs in to incubate the night jar uses dead leaves to cover their eggs that are placed on the open soil. The eggs are white to cream color covered in brown and gray spots and typically the females lay two at a time. The incubation period of the Nightjar eggs is approximately 19-21 days, with the daytime duty left to the female while both the male and female share the duty during the night time hours. Once the nightjar hatchlings hatch they are covered in down and are on the move within one day, however only for very short distances. As the hatchlings travel the short distances the male stays near the nest to guard to defend the young hatchlings. Both the parents communicate with the hatchings with soft distinct sounds. The new hatchings with fledge at about 20-21 days of age, however until that time their parents feed them regurgitated insects. Sometimes in one can find the female laying another set of eggs near the first. She will incubate them alone while the male provides the care to the first hatchings until the are ready to leave the nest. It is unknown of the age a Nightjar can begin to reproduce as there is little known about the overall breeding habits or lifespan.