Endemic bird of the day : Least Pauraque

Abstract

Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) day 142 poster, dedicated to the Least Pauraque. Although the avian family name Caprimulgidae does actually hail from myths purporting that these birds suckled (chupa) on goats’ (cabra) udders, the Least Pauraque couldn’t be more of an adorable toasted marshmallow of a bird with no interest whatsoever in drinking goat milk. They are actually far more interested in eating nocturnal flying insects—which is great news for all of us who don’t fancy nights filled with mosquitos! These birds are locally known as ‘Torico’. Their local names come from their guttural repeated “torico, torico” call.