Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The ocellated poorwill (Nyctiphrynus ocellatus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru. At one time what is now the Choco poorwill (Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi) was considered a subspecies of the ocellated poorwill, but plumage, vocalization, and genetic differences showed it to be its own species.
The ocellated poorwill is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long. Males weigh 35 to 43 g (1.2 to 1.5 oz) and females 29 to 44 g (1.0 to 1.6 oz). There are two color morphs, one brown and one rufous. The brown morph of the nominate is mostly dark grayish brown with blackish brown spots on the wings and white spots on the belly. The white spots somewhat resemble eyes, which gives the bird its name. It has a bold white band around the throat. The outer three or four tail feathers have narrow white tips. The rufous morph is paler and reddish brown instead of dark... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 2 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 3 | Amboró National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 4 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Poorwill sighting in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, based on 146 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 272nd most-seen of the 550 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February, May and July
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Poorwill in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in March–April, June and August–January, the lowest months.
Between 5 and 8 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ocellated Poorwill sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
2nd of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Ocellated Poorwill sightings, Tambopata National Reserve ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Manu National Park (Peru, about 10%).
Same family: Caprimulgidae
The closest relatives of the Ocellated Poorwill that you can see in Tambopata National Reserve (family Caprimulgidae, Nightjars and Allies) are Common Pauraque (about 10%) and Sand-colored Nighthawk (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ocellated Poorwill is recorded against all the birds logged in Tambopata National Reserve (146 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
