Taken at the entrance of the Cueva la Guacharo, the largest colony of Oilbirds in the world. The colony is shrinking because of deforestation around the cave. The Oilbird is a unique fruit-eating member of the Nightjar order. Shot after nesting season, when there were many young birds on the ground who could not manage to learn how to fly and feed properly, and will be eaten by rats. I took this shot at ISO 1600 not intending to use the built in flash, but may have violated the rules :(
A daytime cave-dweller, and a distant relative of the nighthawk order of birds. Oilbirds, which have oily feathers, are fruit-eaters. Note large hooked bill different than a nighthawk.
Africa (entire continent rather than south of Sahara)
AN
Antarctica
AO
Atlantic Ocean
AU
Australasia (Wallacea (Indonesian islands east of Wallace's line), New Guinea and its islands, Australia, New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu)
EU
Eurasia (Europe, Asia from the Middle East through central Asia north of the Himalayas, Siberia and northern China to Japan)
IO
Indian Ocean
LA
Latin America (Middle and South America)
MA
Middle America (Mexico through Panama)
NA
North America (includes the Caribbean)
NO
Northern oceans
OR
Oriental Region (South Asia from Pakistan to Taiwan, plus Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Greater Sundas)
