Other Scientific Names
Caprimulgus candicans [Collar and Andrew (1988)], Caprimulgus candicans [SACC (2005)], Caprimulgus candicans [BirdLife International (2000)], Caprimulgus candicans [Stotz et al. (1996)], Caprimulgus candicans [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Caprimulgus candicans [Collar et al. (1994)]
Habitat
Wet grassland and "campo cerrado", the latter with a mixture of palms Butia paraguayensis and termite mounds, in "campo limpo" with abundant termite mounds. From 170 - 1,000 m.
Northern Bolivia, south-central Brazil and eastern Paraguay.
 
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 2,499 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat destruction due to grazing, invasive grasses, inappropriate fire regimes and conversion to agriculture, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Largely silent. Males produce a mechanical 'tuc, trrrrrut' noise during display.
White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) [XC15334]
by Myriam Velazquez from Aguar\u00e1 \u00d1u, Canindey\u00fa, Paraguay (song, 'song' produced with the wings during short display flights)
White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) [XC833281]
by id from Exaltacion (near Palmira), Yacuma, Departamento del Beni, Bolivia (song, wing-drum)
Subspecies
Has been considered to have close affinities with White-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis cayennensis), forming superspecies or possibly even conspecific, but available evidence suggests that they may not be closely related.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Female Little Nightjar (Setopagis parvula) is more patterned, with a pale throat and distinctive pale spots on wing-coverts.
References
See References.