Antrostomus

Antrostomus
File:Chuck-wills-widow RWD7.jpg
Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Caprimulgiformes
Family:	Caprimulgidae
Genus:	Antrostomus Bonaparte, 1838
Species
12, see text.

Antrostomus is a genus of nightjars formerly included in the genus Caprimulgus, but evidence suggested the genus be split. They are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long pointed wings, short legs and short bills.

Antrostomus nightjars are found in the New World, and like other nightjars they usually nest on the ground. They are mostly active in the late evening and early morning or at night, and feed predominantly on moths and other large flying insects.

Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. Some species, unusually for birds, perch along a branch, rather than across it, which helps to conceal them during the day. Temperate species are strongly migratory, wintering in the tropics.

Antrostomus species have relatively long bills and rictal bristles. Many have repetitive and often mechanical songs.

Species

• Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis
• Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus
• Cuban nightjar, Antrostomus cubanensis
• Hispaniolan nightjar, Antrostomus ekmani
• Tawny-collared nightjar, Antrostomus salvini
• Yucatan nightjar, Antrostomus badius
• Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
• Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
• Dusky nightjar, Antrostomus saturatus
• Puerto Rican nightjar, Antrostomus noctitherus
• Silky-tailed nightjar, Antrostomus sericocaudatus

References

• Han, K.-L., M. B. Robbins, and M. J. Braun (2010): A multigene estimate of phylogeny in the nightjars and nighthawks (Caprimulgidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55: 443-453.