Great Potoo (photo: oiseaux.net) Birdwatching in Colombia is a diverse, colourful and interesting experience for birdwatchers and novices alike. Recently we came to love nocturnal birdwatching. When it gets dark, a different world opens its doors to the birdwatcher: owls, nighthawks, nightjars, potoos and night-herons along with grasshoppers and frogs cater for an impressive, mystical and fascinating soundscape. Here is our Nocturnal Birding List for a night out in Los Llanos!
While birdwatching during the day is exciting enough in Colombia, early this year we discovered the joys of nocturnal birdwatching. Equipped with a large torch, nocturnal birdwatching allows to literally shine a light on the source of certain calls, to really point at the birds that call and determine them. Interestingly, in some cases we found this to be much easier than distinguishing birds during the day, when the eye is easily distracted but other sights and movements. Nocturnal birdwatching allows for much more focused birding and the spooky hoots and melancholic thrills and songs cater for a mystical experience not so easily forgotten. Please enjoy our selection of the most prominent nocturnal birds in Los Llanos.
photo: wikimedia commons
Black-crowned night heron (nycticorax nycticorax)
The night heron roosts conspicuously in trees near water. At Villa Pepita we regularly see it by the creek at the entrance where it hunts for insects at dusk.
The night heron roosts conspicuously in trees near water. At Villa Pepita we regularly see it by the creek at the entrance where it hunts for insects at dusk.
photo: wikimedia commons
Pauraque (nyctidromus albicollis)
The pauraques' calls are probably the most common sounds next to grasshoppers at night - this is certainly true for Villa Pepita, and maybe even for any other tropical stretch in the New World. It enjoys resting on roads at night. This is its distinctive sound that accompanies you falling asleep in the Llanos.
The pauraques' calls are probably the most common sounds next to grasshoppers at night - this is certainly true for Villa Pepita, and maybe even for any other tropical stretch in the New World. It enjoys resting on roads at night. This is its distinctive sound that accompanies you falling asleep in the Llanos.
photo: owling.com
Striped Owl (pseudoscops clamator)
The rodent hunter can be seen perching on trees and watching over open areas along the piedemonte llanero in the east as well as in the Santa Marta area of Colombia. High calls, dog like barks and whistled calls. About 38 cm high.
The rodent hunter can be seen perching on trees and watching over open areas along the piedemonte llanero in the east as well as in the Santa Marta area of Colombia. High calls, dog like barks and whistled calls. About 38 cm high.
photo: owling.com
Tropical Screech-Owl (megascops choliba)
Common in forest edge and Colombia's most seen screech-owl, this 23 cm owl has a disctinctive call: c'r'r'r'r-cu-CU - a sound we are all too familiar with here at Villa Pepita as it accompanies us during dinners.
Common in forest edge and Colombia's most seen screech-owl, this 23 cm owl has a disctinctive call: c'r'r'r'r-cu-CU - a sound we are all too familiar with here at Villa Pepita as it accompanies us during dinners.
photo: sapayoa nature photography
Tawny-Bellied Screech-Owl (megascops watsonii)
This screech owl prefers forest edge and is difficult to observe albeit often heard. Its call is a song, fast, steady hooted thrill, fading a little towards the end, >5 sec.
This screech owl prefers forest edge and is difficult to observe albeit often heard. Its call is a song, fast, steady hooted thrill, fading a little towards the end, >5 sec.
photo: wikimedia commons
Great Horned Owl (bubo virginianus)
The most 'classical' owl from our list is Colombia's lrgest owl (55 cm) and local in the Llanos. The nocturnal bird takes medium-sized prey, mammals and other birds. Its calls are a series of deep hoots.
The most 'classical' owl from our list is Colombia's lrgest owl (55 cm) and local in the Llanos. The nocturnal bird takes medium-sized prey, mammals and other birds. Its calls are a series of deep hoots.
photo: wikipedia.org
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (glaucidium brasilianum)
As if this 16 cm short owl was not cute enough, it also regularly suffers mobbing from passerines. It is fairly common in semi-open areas and forest edge in the Llanos. Song is a steady du, du, du up to 1 minute. It hunts during twilight and even during the day.
As if this 16 cm short owl was not cute enough, it also regularly suffers mobbing from passerines. It is fairly common in semi-open areas and forest edge in the Llanos. Song is a steady du, du, du up to 1 minute. It hunts during twilight and even during the day.
Great Potoo (nyctibius grandis)
This curious bird is a regular at Villa Pepita and its spooky calls can be heard throughout the night. Sometimes in couples they sit on dead tree trunks and watch over the open grassland. With its 55cm it is the greatest potoo of the five genus of potoo that inhabit Colombia and fairly common along the piedemonte llanero (Andean foothills) and in the Amazonas.
This curious bird is a regular at Villa Pepita and its spooky calls can be heard throughout the night. Sometimes in couples they sit on dead tree trunks and watch over the open grassland. With its 55cm it is the greatest potoo of the five genus of potoo that inhabit Colombia and fairly common along the piedemonte llanero (Andean foothills) and in the Amazonas.
photo: wikimedia commons
Common Potoo (nyctibius griseus)
The potoo may as well be the world's greatest master of camouflage. The strictly nocturnal bird spends its days pretending to be the end of a dead branch. At night you are likely to hear its equally curious and beautifully melancholic call: hu-oo-oo-uu (click to listen)
The potoo may as well be the world's greatest master of camouflage. The strictly nocturnal bird spends its days pretending to be the end of a dead branch. At night you are likely to hear its equally curious and beautifully melancholic call: hu-oo-oo-uu (click to listen)
photo: wikipedia.org
Nighthawk (chordeiles)
There are a number of nighthawks in the Llanos, too. Much like the paraque (above) these small nocturnal birds enjoy resting on roads and treks at night and the driveway up to Villa Pepita is no exception. The most common night hawk we see is the Least Nighthawk (photo), with 15 cm the smallest of its family. Other species in los Llanos are the Lesser Nighthawk, Common Nighthawk, Nacunda Nighthawk, Short-Tailed Nighthawk, Band-Tailed Nighthawk.
There are a number of nighthawks in the Llanos, too. Much like the paraque (above) these small nocturnal birds enjoy resting on roads and treks at night and the driveway up to Villa Pepita is no exception. The most common night hawk we see is the Least Nighthawk (photo), with 15 cm the smallest of its family. Other species in los Llanos are the Lesser Nighthawk, Common Nighthawk, Nacunda Nighthawk, Short-Tailed Nighthawk, Band-Tailed Nighthawk.
photo: wikipedia.org
Nightjars
There are various nightjars in the Llanos such as three species of pale nightjars with a fork tail (hydropsalis) at about 20 cm and the much larger rufous nightjar (antrostomus rufus, photo above) at about 28 cm. They are understood to sing a melodic 'Chuck-Will's-Wi-dow' (listen here) and can be heard occasionally at Villa Pepita.
There are various nightjars in the Llanos such as three species of pale nightjars with a fork tail (hydropsalis) at about 20 cm and the much larger rufous nightjar (antrostomus rufus, photo above) at about 28 cm. They are understood to sing a melodic 'Chuck-Will's-Wi-dow' (listen here) and can be heard occasionally at Villa Pepita.
More owls - albeit crepuscular or even diurnal
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| Short-Eared Owl (asio flammeus) This 40 cm high bird is not exactly nocturnal but crepuscular and even diurnal. We still though it belongs into this owl dominated list. It is commonly seen in open grassy areas, which the Llanos have plenty of. | Burrowing Owl (athene cunicularia) Crepuscular and diurnal the burrowing owl (23 cm) is usually seen in pairs and breeds in burrows. There are always plenty in the open savannas at our Finca La Independencia. They are great shooting stars as each owl has their very own facial expression, some grumpy, others curious, some angry, others sceptic... great for portraits! Also see our diurnal list of birds. |
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