grayer than the others. Distribution and habitat The rufous nighjar has a highly discontinuous distribution. The subspecies are found thus: A. r. minimus, southern Costa Rica, Panama, and east along the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Venezuela to Trinidad A. r. rufus, discontinuously in eastern Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname, and central Brazil A. r. otiosus, St. Lucia (Lesser Antilles) A. r. rutilus, southeastern Bolivia and central Brazil south to Paraguay and northeastern Argentina A. r. saltarius, southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) also places the species in Ecuador and Peru but does not note which subspecies are there. The St. Lucia endemic subspecies of rufous nightjar (A. r. otiosus) inhabits dry scrub. The other subspecies inhabit a wide variety of landscapes from scrublands to primary and secondary forest. The landscapes vary in humidity from the dry Gran Chaco to the humid Amazon basin. Behavior The rufous nightjar is most active at dawn and dusk. It roosts during the day, either on a low perch or on the ground under thick vegetation. Feeding The rufous nightjar forages by sallies from a low perch such as a branch or fencepost. Its diet is insects though details are lacking. Breeding The rufous nightjar lays its clutch of one or two eggs on bare ground without a conventional nest. It is usually hidden in low vegetation. The female incubates during the day. Vocalization The rufous nightjar's song has been interpreted by several authors; two examples are "a loud, staccato chup, whi-whi-RIoh or chuck whip-his-WIDdow, repeated fairly rapidly" and "an energetic, rhythmic chuck, wick-wick-WEEoo." The song is usually given from a perch at any level up to above the ground. Status The IUCN has assessed the rufous nightjar as being of Least Concern. It has a vary large range and population, though the latter is believed to be decreasing. No immeditate threats have been identified. References rufous nightjar Birds of the Peruvian Amazon Birds of the Bolivian Amazon Birds of the Amazon Basin Birds of the Atlantic Forest rufous nightjar Taxonomy articles created by Polbot