Order
Caprimulgiformes
Family
Caprimulgidae
Genus
Uropsalis
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Lyre-tailed Nightjar Uropsalis lyra

Benjamin Van Doren
Version: 1.0 — Published August 29, 2014

Priorities for Future Research

Introduction

More information is needed regarding the diet, nesting and social behavior of Lyre-tailed Nightjar. Estimating the overall population size and population trend would be difficult but informative for better assessing the conservation status of the species. At first glance, the male’s extremely elongated tail feathers appear likely to hinder flight, and their existence may be evidence of sexual selection governed by the handicap principle. However, in theory, these feathers may create sufficient lift to allow flight at low power and low speeds (Thomas 1997), which may actually aid in the performance of courtship displays. More study is needed to reveal the precise aerodynamic role of these feathers.

Recommended Citation

Van Doren, B. (2014). Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.lytnig1.01