Nyctidromus Explained

Nyctidromus is a genus of nightjars in the family Caprimulgidae. The species are widely distributed in Central and South America.

Taxonomy

The genus Nyctidromus was introduced in 1838 by the English ornithologist John Gould to accommodate his newly described Nyctidromus derbyanus.^[1] This taxon is therefore the type species; it is now considered as a subspecies of the pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis (Gmelin) 1789.^[2] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek nukti- meaning "nocturnal" or "night-" with -dromos meaning "-racer" (from trekhō "to run").^[3]

The genus contains two species:^[4]

• Pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis
• Anthony's nightjar, Nyctidromus anthonyi

Notes and References

1. Book: Gould, John . John Gould . 1838 . Icones Avium, or figures and descriptions of new and interesting species of birds from various parts of the globe . Part 2 . self . London . Plate 12 text (plates not numbered) .
2. Book: Peters . James Lee . James L. Peters . 1940 . Check-List of Birds of the World . 4 . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 192 .
3. Book: Jobling, James A. . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 277 .
4. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . January 2022 . Frogmouths, Oilbird, potoos, nightjars . IOC World Bird List Version 12.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 7 July 2022 .