The Buff-collared Nightjar is a small nightjar found in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. With mottled gray to brown on top, the buff collar is wrapped around a darker colored throat. The underside is pale gray to brown with dark brown barring. The tail matches the upperparts, but has white edges. The feet and legs are both black. Their flight is quiet as they float along with flicking wing beats.
To see this species, you will have to be up to staying up late or getting up early, as they are nocturnal. Typically, however, the bird is usually seen when accidentally roused from its nest site or hiding place. To make the most of insect catching, they fly along with their mouths wide open. The Buff-collared Nightjar is named after an American ornithologist of the 1800’s, Robert Ridgway.
Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; whatbird.com
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