Credit: Christoph Moning
North American field guide
Buff-collared Nightjar
Caprimulgus ridgwayi
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Identification
Field notes
22 cm (9") Rare. Desert canyons of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Nocturnal; roosts on ground during day. Feeds on flying insects.
Mottled gray-brown; short, rounded wings without wing patches; rounded tail; black chin; thin light necklace; light outer tail. Told from Whip-poor-will by the buff collar across back of neck.
Song: series of accelerating "chucks" ending with a "cukacheea".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Francesco Veronesi
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Buff-collared Nightjar
2 rulesRule 1 10 criteria · confidence 1
- Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?
- No · Unknown
- How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
- In flight
- What SHAPE were the wings ?
- Rounded · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Swallow-like · Hawk-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States
Rule 2 14 criteria · confidence 1
- What colour were the WINGS ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States