ML49356971

Age and sex

Adult Female - X

Media notes

Ventral-lateral view of a perched bird, at night, illuminated by flashlights. At the edge of a river about 2 km from the outlet (although distance to the ocean was only about 0.4 km).

Observation details

Female (based on lack of white tail spots/patches). At the edge of a river about 2 km from the outlet (although distance to the ocean was only about 0.4 km). Similar in plumage to female Eastern Whip-poor-will. The rusty sides to cheek/nape area are apparently sometimes evident on that species, but on the Yucatan Nighthjar are more extensive and extend across the nape. Unfortunately we could not see the nape. Field marks that I believe are diagnostic for Yucatan Nightjar include irregular barring on the underside of the rectrices and also irregular 4-pronged star shape to white spots on the lower breast (more regular fan shape to similar spots on a Whip-poor-will). The bird did not vocalize at all. It appeared to be smaller than a Pauraque would be, although there was no other bird present for comparison. At about 7:15 we spotted the bird by its eyeshine in the flashlight. We approached to within about 5 meters to illuminate and photograph the bird. It never moved. We then left it alone for more than 30 minutes and it was still present in the same perch as we passed its spot close to 8 pm.

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

ISO

800

Focal length

120.8 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

0.05 sec

Dimensions

2800 pixels x 2100 pixels

Original file size

1.25 MB