Habitat and Range Description Food Breeding Sounds More Images Recent Literature

Oilbird

Order: CaprimulgiformesOilbird

Family: Steatornithidae

1 species

HABITAT AND RANGE:

northern South America and nearby islands

DESCRIPTION:

45 cm; bill short, wide-gaped, hooked; prominent rictal bristles; wings long, pointed; tail long, rounded; legs short; toes long, claws sharp, curved;

FOOD:

nocturnal foragers on palm fruit; good senses of olfaction and echo-location;

BREEDING:

colonial cave-nesters; sexes similiar; 2-4 eggs; monogamous; biparental care.

SOUNDS:

MORE IMAGES:

RECENT LITERATURE:

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(Image taken from ffrench, Richard. A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, 1991).