It Looks Like a Tiny, Fluffy Dragon, But It’s Really a Bird. Meet the Great Eared Nightjar

NEED TO KNOW

• The big-eared nightjar is a nocturnal bird that resembles a fluffy dragon

• Big-eared nightjars are found in the forests of Southeast Asia

• Birds build their nests on the forest floor

Have you ever wondered what a little fluffy dragon with cat ears looks like? Meet the big-eared nightjar, a rather mystical-looking bird.

This creature with big eyes, whose name is Lyncornis macrotis and is often nicknamed the “baby dragon”, lives in the “dense, low-lying forests” of South and Southeast Asia, according to LiveScience.

You will likely spot them in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the “big ears” status comes from the golden feathers at the top of their heads, which resemble cat ears.

These nocturnal birds can grow 12 to 16 inches tall and stand out from other birds with their impeccable posture and unique ears, according to eBird. The species’ brown, black and gray plumage helps it camouflage itself from predators such as owls.

They also have a busy schedule. During the day, the birds lie motionless on the ground, blending into piles of leaves and tree stumps to hide from predators. At night, they search for moths, beetles and other flying insects.

The big-eared nightjar is particularly distinguished by the way it eats and drinks. Australian Geographic reports that the bird catches prey in the open while hunting. They will also skillfully glide over lakes and put water in their mouths while flying.

The big-eared nightjar is also different from other birds because of the way it nests. Instead of building a nest in a tree and laying several eggs at a time, they lay one egg at a time on a bed of leaves on the forest floor.

The big-eared nightjar parents take turns incubating their egg together until it hatches. The offspring stay in the house camouflaged on the ground and are fed by their parents until they are old enough to gather their own food.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation status of the species in 2020 is of “least concern”.

An animal population is considered “least concern” when it has been assessed against the Red List criteria and does not meet the conditions required to be classified as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened. »

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As for the sound of these glorious creatures, the piercing call of the big-eared nightjar can be heard at dawn and dusk.

Birds use high-pitched chirps, followed by low-pitched whistles, to mark territories, attract mates, and warn other birds.

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