The river is still half asleep when the first light glances off the broad, coppery surface of the Tapajós. The air smells of wet sand and driftwood. On a narrow, flooded island midstream, a Nightjar rests on a sun-bleached branch just above the waterline. It is a Sand-colored Nightjar (Hydropsalis intercedens) which formerly used to be called Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris). At first, it looks like nothing more than a knot of bark. Then an eye flickers open—a sliver of amber in the pale dawn—and the shape resolves into the bird itself, perfectly still, perfectly camouflaged.
This nightjar is a master of invisibility. Its sandy plumage mirrors the riverbanks it inhabits, blending seamlessly into the open, sedimented patches that appear as the Amazon’s great tributaries shift and breathe with the seasons. Along the Rio Tapajós, Sand-colored Nightjar uses such transient habitats—gravel bars, sandy islands, and floodplain clearings—for roosting and nesting. The bird’s cryptic coloration is its primary defense; even at close range, it remains nearly impossible to detect unless it moves.
Unlike many forest-dwelling nightjars, the Sand-colored Nightjar favors open, semi-arid or riverine environments. Its distribution follows the white-sand and sandy-soil ecosystems of central and northern Brazil, particularly within the Amazon Basin’s drier corridors. Observations along the Tapajós and lower Madeira rivers show that this species often selects areas with sparse vegetation and minimal human disturbance, perching directly on bare sand or driftwood. During the high-water season, when these sandbanks submerge, individuals shift to nearby exposed areas or temporary islands.
Behaviorally, Sand-colored Nightjar is crepuscular and nocturnal, becoming active shortly after sunset. It hunts on the wing, catching moths and other flying insects over open channels and sandbars. The flight is buoyant and erratic, a series of glides and quick turns that seem effortless in the fading light. During the day, the bird remains motionless, relying on camouflage rather than concealment.
Its breeding strategy reflects its adaptation to unstable habitats. The nest—often nothing more than a shallow depression in the sand—is placed directly on open ground, where the eggs’ mottled pattern mimics pebbles and debris. Such simplicity is efficient in an environment that may be reshaped overnight by wind or rising water. The species’ success depends on the periodic exposure of sandbars and beaches, making it sensitive to changes in river hydrology caused by dams or altered flood regimes.
The Sand-colored Nightjar’s range overlaps with that of other Hydropsalis (Nightjar) species, but it remains distinct in both plumage and ecological preference. Along the Tapajós, its presence signals a functioning floodplain system—a landscape where cycles of inundation and emergence still follow natural rhythm.
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