Oilbird

Steatornis caripensis · Species of bird
Family
Order
Steatornithiformes
Codes
oilbir1, OILB

About the Oilbird

The oilbird, locally known as the guácharo, is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the only living species in the genus Steatornis, the family Steatornithidae, and the order Steatornithiformes. Nesting in colonies in caves, oilbirds are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the oil palm and tropical laurels. They are the only nocturnal flying fruit-eating birds in the world. They forage at night, with specially adapted eyesight. However, they navigate by echolocation in the same way as bats, one of the few birds to do so. They produce a high-pitched clicking sound of around 2 kHz that is audible to humans.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderSteatornithiformes
FamilyOilbird (Steatornithidae)
SpeciesSteatornis caripensis
Species Codesoilbir1, OILB

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Oilbird belong to?

The Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) belongs to the Oilbird family (Steatornithidae), in the order Steatornithiformes.

How can I identify the Oilbird?

The oilbird, locally known as the guácharo, is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the only living species in the genus Steatornis, the family Steatornithidae, and the order Steatornithiformes. Nesting in colonies in caves, oi...

Where can I report a Oilbird sighting?

You can log sightings of Oilbird on eBird (ebird.org) using species code oilbir1, or on iNaturalist.