Skip to main content
Today is World Environment Day!
Close

Common Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

Photo by Flowerpatch
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

26.1247, -97.9503

Field Notes

Description:

It was quit difficult to see this bird even with the help of a professional birder! Roosting in the dense thicket it blended so well into the brush.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (16)
Scott Frazier
Hello Flowerpatch. Each spotting can be entered in up to 5 relevant missions. :-)
Chris Carille
I love nightjars! Awesome spotting! In the tropics when I've found these, they often fly away before you can get near enough to get a good photo... so kudos on the fantastic capture!
Flowerpatch
Thanks for the recommendation S Frazier. I switched the mission to Mimetic Animals of the World.
Yasser
Wow! In the thumbnail it totally looks like a snake! Incredible spotting.
Scott Frazier
Your spotting is perfect for this mission http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8015991
Jellis
They can't change to look like one but some birds patterns my resemble a snake pattern
Jellis
I deleted the message cause I didn't see the got the ID.
Flowerpatch
I heard they are camouflaged to look similar to a rattlesnake!
AshleyT
A Pauraque is a nightjar, Jellis.
AshleyT
This is my similar spotting. I had already walked by him several times, someone had to point him out to me! It was the eyes that did it for me too, if they would have been closed he would have been invisible! https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19791039
Flowerpatch
Thanks Ashley. I was staring at it for 5 minutes before I could see it! It opened it's eye and the shape of the eye was the clue my guide gave me so I could find it.
AshleyT
Great find! I've always wanted to find one of these during the day.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Mimetic Animals of the World
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 3, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies