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, Jon Smit 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.
Gallery 1 Male
FIGURE 1a - (FPAVE1258PH) Adult male ventral view, PN Teniente Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 1b - (FPAVE1259PH) Adult male on ground, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 1c - (FPAVE1260PH) Adult male lateral view, Madrejón, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 1d - (FPAVE1261PH) Adult male dorsal view with spread tail, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith November 2005).
VIDEO A - (FPAVE1268VI) Same individual as (FPAVE1258PH)  (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 1a

FIGURE 1a
FIGURE 1b

FIGURE 1b
FIGURE 1c

FIGURE 1c
FIGURE 1d

FIGURE 1d
Gallery 2 Female
FIGURE 2a - (FPAVE3992PH) Adult female, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Jon Smit February 2011).
FIGURE 2b - (FPAVE3993PH) Same individual as (FPAVE3992PH) frontal (Jon Smit February 2011).
FIGURE 2c - (FPAVE3994PH) Same individual as (FPAVE3992PH) head detail (Jon Smit February 2011).
FIGURE 2d - (FPAVE1263PH) Adult female, Isla Yacyreta, Departamento Misiones (Paul Smith September 2010).
FIGURE 2e - (FPAVE1263PH) Adult female, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2f - (FPAVE1264PH) Adult female head detail Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006)
FIGURE 2g - (FPAVE1265PH) Adult female dorsal view, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2h - (FPAVE1266PH) Adult female upperwing, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 2i - (FPAVE1267PH) Female at day roost, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
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).
FIGURE 2a

FIGURE 2a
FIGURE 2b

FIGURE 2b
FIGURE 2c

FIGURE 2c
FIGURE 2d

FIGURE 2d
FIGURE 2e

FIGURE 2e
FIGURE 2f

FIGURE 2f
FIGURE 2g

FIGURE 2g
FIGURE 2h

FIGURE 2h
FIGURE 2i

FIGURE 2i