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Oilbird

Birds

The oilbird, locally known as the guacharo, 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 its genus, family, and order, and it nests in colonies in caves as a nocturnal feeder on the fruit of the oil palm and tropical laurels, making it the only nocturnal, flying, fruit-eating bird in the world. It navigates by echolocation in the same way as bats, one of the few birds known to do so, producing a high-pitched clicking sound around 2 kilohertz that is audible to humans.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Frugivore 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Ecotourism and Research 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 4
Scientific Name
Steatornis caripensis 4
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 3
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Aves, Taxa
Source Oilbird (Wikidata)

In Biome

Tropical Rainforest, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Steatornis caripensis
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Bolivia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Brazil

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Chile

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Colombia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Costa Rica

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ecuador

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Guatemala

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Guyana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Nicaragua

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Panama

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Peru

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Venezuela

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Wikipedia: Oilbird
Wikipedia
  • lead paragraph (habitat realm), EntityId 340842
    Nesting in colonies in caves, oilbirds are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the oil palm and tropical laurels.
  • Infobox: status
    LC
View the Source
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Steatornis caripensis
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
    Dunston Cave, one of the most popular caves in the Asa Wright Nature Center, is an important ecotourism destination in northern Trinidad and brings significant economic support to the region.
  • In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Habitat Regions, biome: rainforest
    rainforest rainforest
View the Source
4. Oilbird (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q213785 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
  • Child Taxon Of: Aves, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
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