Scissor-tailed Nightjar

Identification

The scissor-tailed nightjar is instantly recognizable by the male's extraordinarily elongated outer tail feathers, which are almost twice as long as its body. Males reach up to 66 cm in length when these dramatic feathers are included, though the body itself measures only 25 to 30 cm. Females lack these extended tail feathers and are substantially shorter overall. Both sexes weigh around 47 to 63 grams.

Males of the nominate subspecies display brown upperparts with grayish-white speckles and blackish streaks down the middle of the back. A distinctive broad tawny collar adorns the hindneck. The tail feathers are brown with broad white tips on the elongated outer pair. The underparts grade from a buffy chin through a spotted throat to a barred breast and flanks. The wings are generally brown with tawny or buff streaks and notably lack the white wing band seen in many other nightjar species. Females are duller overall with tawnier wings and no white on the tail.

Range & Habitat

This species is distributed across much of eastern South America in two recognized subspecies. The nominate subspecies ranges from east-central Peru across central Brazil, with an isolated population in Suriname. The southern subspecies, H. t. furcifer, is found from southern Peru through Bolivia and southern Brazil, extending south to Paraguay, northern and central Argentina, and Uruguay.

Scissor-tailed nightjars favour open and semi-open landscapes including second growth, arid scrub, grasslands, acacia groves, pastures, and surprisingly, urban parks. They are commonly spotted along roadsides, particularly those bordering sugar cane fields. Elevation ranges typically from sea level to 1,100 metres, though they have been recorded as high as 2,700 metres in Bolivia. Northern populations are generally resident, while southerly populations are thought to be migratory, wintering in southern Amazonia.

Behaviour & Diet

The scissor-tailed nightjar is strictly nocturnal, foraging by sallying from the ground or a low perch to snatch insects from the air. Its diet is remarkably diverse, encompassing insects from at least twelve different orders, with beetles being particularly favoured. At least thirteen beetle families have been identified in their diet. During daylight hours, they roost inconspicuously on the ground in shaded spots.

Males perform distinctive wing-clapping displays during breeding. The species produces a prolonged sequence of sharp tsips, sometimes continuing for minutes on end, delivered at dusk and dawn from a perch or in flight. They also utter an extremely high tsig flight call and low clucking sounds. Though their exact nesting season remains undefined, breeding appears to occur at least from September to December, with pairs laying two eggs directly on the ground or bare rock.

Best Time & Places to See It

The scissor-tailed nightjar is fairly common to common throughout most of its range and shows remarkable tolerance of human activity. Early morning and dusk are the best times to observe this nocturnal species. Urban parks within its range offer surprisingly good opportunities, as do roadsides bordering open habitats and agricultural areas. Look along roads flanking sugar cane fields, particularly in central Brazil and surrounding regions.

The species' stability and adaptability to modified landscapes mean it is more accessible to travellers than many nightjar species. Listen for the distinctive prolonged tsipping song, which can help locate roosting or perched individuals during twilight hours.

Photography Tips

Photographing males in flight is essential to capture the species' most striking feature—those impossibly long scissor-like tail feathers. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze the rapid wing beats during sallying flights. Patience and early morning or late evening light will yield the best results, as the bird is most active during twilight hours.

Ground-roosting birds can be challenging to locate during the day, but nocturnal spotlighting techniques may reveal perched individuals. The male's white-tipped tail feathers and tawny collar provide good focal points for composition. For daytime shots, focus on the intricate plumage patterns and the distinctive collar marking that distinguishes this species from other nightjars.