Pennant nightjar: giant feathers twice the size of the bird itself (6 photos)

The pennant nightjar is a small bird the size of a swallow. It has settled in the wooded savannas south of the Sahara. In the daytime, however, even collectors will not get to the nightjars. The invisibility cloak is crap compared to the camouflage of our hero.





— Oh no, the poor bird, all pricked with arrows! — Dude, put me back where I belong, you're ruining my date!

A small bird hides in the most open place - right on the ground. The brown-mottled color allows the nightjar to pretend to be a piece of dried mud until dark.



Why is this lump of mud looking at me so disdainfully?

At night, the bird spreads its wings and begins its night feeding. The brighter the moon shines, the more lanterns are lit, the better - all the nightjar's favorite treats fly towards the light. Moths, midges, beetles - the main thing is that they fit into the nightjar's wide chirping. The technique of catching is not elegant - we fly silently, with our mouths open, hoping that more insects will get in there.





Night eater mode activated!

For most of the year, nightjars do not seek the company of their own kind. But in the summer, in the midst of drought, it becomes hot not only in the vastness of the savannah, but also in the hearts of feathered hermits. The season of love begins! When you merge with the earth, it is difficult to attract a soulmate. Therefore, males have come up with a spectacular way to demonstrate their love. During the mating season, their wings are decorated with "Cupid's arrows" - giant feathers up to half a meter long! This is twice the size of the bird itself!



And they say that size does not matter. It's all nonsense!

The only function of such fans is interference. Giant pennants maliciously violate all the laws of aerodynamics. But this is the essence of the mating test: to show how good you are, even if physics itself is against you! The show begins at night. The male chooses a clearing and soars upward: he slowly flies in circles, while the standards flaunt high above the wings. Nightjars cannot sing — they have invested all their experience points into the visual show of waving flags.



Initially, scientists assumed that such pennants should knock down predators during an attack. But later biologists realized that beautiful flags are needed exclusively to attract the opposite sex!

Up to 20 standard-bearers gather in one clearing. Each lady will choose the best one to her taste. And then she will choose again. And again. This species of nightjars differs from others in their free relationships and polygamy. A creative nature is not inclined to constancy.



Boy: writes "I love you" on the pavement. Man: turns into an advertising plane and announces his feelings to all of Africa.

The father dramatically flies away into the dawn, but the mother doesn't worry much about future generations either. Instead of a cozy nest, the mother dumps a clutch of two eggs in a small sandy hole. She will sit in ambush with her offspring for about a month. The first two weeks - incubating the clutch. The second two weeks - until the young begin to try to fly. In the fifth week of life, nightjars become completely independent. And at one year old, they are pierced by the arrows of love!