Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith and Arne Lesterhuis and is used with their permission.
SCISSOR-TAILED NIGHTJAR Hydropsalis torquata
Being nocturnal birds, nightjars carry with them a sense of mystery and awe, and people are always fascinated by their glowing red eyes and approachability. But of all the Paraguayan species the one that impresses people more than any is the magnificent Scissor-tailed Nightjar. Well to be precise it is the male that impresses people, the female being a bit more "run of the mill"! He possesses such a long, forked tail that it seems almost unfeasible that he can live his semi-terrestrial existence without snapping them!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE1258PH) Adult male ventral view, PN Teniente Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE1259PH) Adult male on ground, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE1260PH) Adult male lateral view, Madrejón, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE1261PH) Adult male dorsal view with spread tail, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE1263PH) Adult female, Isla Yacyreta, Departamento Misiones (Paul Smith September 2010).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE1263PH) Adult female, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE1264PH) Adult female head detail Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006)
FIGURE 8 - (FPAVE1265PH) Adult female dorsal view, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 9 - (FPAVE1266PH) Adult female upperwing, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 10 - (FPAVE1267PH) Female at day roost, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
VIDEO A - (FPAVE1268VI) Same individual as (FPAVE1258PH)  (Paul Smith September 2006).
VIDEO B - (FPAVE1269VI) Adult female, Madrejón, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith September 2006).
VIDEO C - (FPAVE1270VI) Adult female, Isla Yacyreta, Departamento Misiones (Paul Smith September 2010).
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