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FAST FACTS
Call: Terrific eared nightjar(Lyncornis macrotis
Where it lives: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
What it consumes: Moths, beetles and other flying pests
With its big, forward-facing eyes and head tufts that appear like ears, the excellent eared nightjar looks like a dragon more than a bird. Typically nicknamed the “baby dragon,” this otherworldly-looking animal has numerous distinct characteristics, consisting of a spooky, haunting call.
Fantastic eared nightjars, which reach in between 12 and 16 inches (30 to 40 centimeters) in length, reside in thick, low-lying forests throughout South and Southeast Asia. These evasive, nighttime birds are masters of camouflage and mix into the forest flooring, thanks to their mottled brown, gray and black plumage. By day, they stay still amongst leaf litter or tree stumps, with their coloring securing them from predators.
Great-eared Nightjar (Call) – YouTube
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Instead of developing a standard nest, the excellent eared nightjar lays a single egg straight on the forest flooring or in a shallow bed of leaves. While the specific factor they prevent nesting in trees like lots of other birds stays unsure, it’s most likely that their natural camouflage uses reliable security for both egg and chick versus predators.
Their environment is typically thick with plants and trees, making it challenging for predators to discover the birds and their eggs. Both moms and dads nurture the egg up until it hatches. As soon as the chick has actually emerged, it stays camouflaged on the forest flooring where it is fed by its moms and dads up until it can take care of itself.
In spite of their dragon-like look, terrific eared nightjars feed mainly on moths and other flying pests, which they capture mid-air in the golden hours utilizing their large, open mouths. Their flight is quiet and smooth, enabling them to hunt rapidly and effectively without informing predators, such as owls and other birds of victim.
The call of the terrific eared nightjar is a deep, haunting noise that echoes through the forest at sunset and dawn. This distinct call consists of a sharp “tsiik” sound followed by a time out and a longer, whistle-like call. Nightjars depend on these vocalizations to reproduce. Males frequently utilize their calls to mark their areas, bring in mates or caution others of risks.
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Lydia Smith is a health and science reporter who works for U.K. and U.S. publications. She is studying for an MSc in psychology at the University of Glasgow and has an MA in English literature from King’s College London.
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