Rufous Nightjar

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Pipeline Road, Panama • 24 April 2010

Bird name: Rufous Nightjar
Latin: Caprimulgus rufus
Other: João-corta-pão (Br)
Family: Caprimulgidae • Nightjars

The Rufous Nightjar is found from Costa Rica to Argentina.

This individual was sitting on a chick (not really visible here) in its “nest” on the ground, near Pipeline Road, east of the Panama Canal at the end of April. I think the chick might be the second patch of white on the chest.

It was very well camouflaged on the canopy floor of fallen leaves, and characteristically very difficult to spot even when looking straight at it.