Least Pauraque Siphonorhis brewsteri Scientific name definitions

The Least Pauraque is a small, finely-marked nightjar restricted to central and western Hispaniola. It is closely related to the extinct Jamaican Pauraque (Siphonorhis americana), but is smaller, grayer, and shorter-tailed. The song is a rising, trilled whistle and a variety of calls are also given. The Least Pauraque occurs primarily in xeric woodland and scrub, particularly areas with cacti and thorny shrubs.

17–21·5 cm. Sexes believed similar. Upperparts greyish-brown streaked blackish-brown, crown broadly streaked blackish, broad buff nuchal collar; wing-coverts greyish-brown, boldly spotted white; underparts dark brown, boldly spotted white on breast and becoming white, barred and vermiculated brown on belly; both sexes lack white markings on wings; male has all but central pair of tail feathers narrowly tipped white, female possibly similar or may have tips pale buff. Juvenile similar to adult, but upperparts distinctly spotted blackish-brown, and belly and flanks pale buff faintly barred brown. Race gonavensis claimed to be overall paler, with palest parts of plumage much whiter, almost devoid of any trace of buff, tip of tail purer white and flanks barring less conspicuous and somewhat narrower; also claimed to be smaller.

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Hispaniola, including Gonâve I.

Poorly documented. Possibly breeds Apr–Jun. One nest-site was on top of a narrow ridge at edge of burnt land; no nest, eggs laid on ground. Clutch apparently two. Eggs elliptical, dull white, spotted pale purplish grey, and spotted and scrawled buff and pale brown, size 24·6–25·2 mm × 18·2–18·9 mm; adults threatened at nest-site may perform distraction display.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Hispaniola EBA. Rare, but possibly under-recorded. Population roughly estimated at 6000–15,000 mature individuals and suspected to be slow decline BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Siphonorhis brewsteri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 28/06/2016. . In late 1920s considered local in Haiti and fairly common on Gonâve I, though may have suffered from habitat loss, with large areas of scrubland often burnt off by local people, thereby restricting birds to reduced areas of native woodland; destruction of suitable habitat considered almost complete by 1970s. Apparently not reported at all between 1928 and 1969, probably owing to little or no observer coverage. Current status in Haiti unknown; no recent records and habitat diminishing. In early 1970s located at 16 widespread localities in W & C Dominican Republic where previously unnoticed either because of lack of observers or as a result of a range expansion from Haiti; several recent records from Lago Enriquillo area in centre of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). Densities at Las Cruces, Sierra de Bahoruco remained the same between 1976 and 1996 at 4·8 birds/km² and 4·5 birds/km² respectively BirdLife International (2016) Species factsheet: Siphonorhis brewsteri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 28/06/2016. . Potential threats include predation by introduced mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) and rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) and loss of habitat through slash and burn clearance for agriculture, or taking of timber for charcoal burning. Occurs within one protected area, the 1151 km² Sierra de Bahoruco National Park (Dominican Republic).