The long-eared nightjar (Lyncornis macrotis) is a bird found mainly in Southeast Asia, however, some have compared it to a dragon. This claim is made because it is similar to a famous Dreamworks dragon “Toothless”. But what makes this bird so similar to a dragon? The main characteristic has to do with its diet since the peasants and shepherds called this animal “nightjar” because they thought it fed on the udders of field goats, although there are others such as its appearance, its look, and even the shape of its peak.
A Unique Animal: Dragon Bird
Although long-eared nightjars have a certain threatening appearance, they are not very large birds. They are quite the opposite. They usually reach an average of 31-40 centimeters in length and weigh between 125 and 150 grams. Despite their size, they are truly efficient hunters and their wings are robust and powerful. Its mouth is also surprisingly large. Its main characteristic is its side tufts on its head that resemble owl-like ears. It has shiny black eyes that give it a tender appearance. Its plumage is mainly brown with a thin lighter stripe, although its crown, back belly, and flanks are grayish ocher in color. They also have a whitish stripe around their neck like a necklace.
The bird only feeds on insects that it hunts after dark since it is a nocturnal species, but they nest and hunt on the ground, which would give the appearance that they are drinking the milk of cattle. It can even be found in Asian countries such as Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Burma. One of the most surprising characteristics is that it usually incubates a single egg at a time. It is probably the safest strategy to incubate the egg and keep it camouflaged while on the forest floor.
Long-Eared Nightjar the Dreamworks Dragon
Many users on social networks have been amazed by the great resemblance to a dragon. Some of them have even compared it to the Night Fury that appears in the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon.” Will it be true?
Six Species Are Officially Recognized:
- Common long-eared nightjar (Eurostopodus argus): Found in Australia and parts of New Guinea.
- Australian long-eared nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus): Found in
- Australia, New Guinea, and some nearby islands.
- Philippine long-eared nightjar (Aegotheles bennettii) – Found in the Philippines.
- Moluccan long-eared nightjar (Aegotheles affinis): Found in the Moluccan Islands, Indonesia.
- New Caledonian long-eared nightjar (Aegotheles savesi): Found in New Caledonia.
- Solomon long-eared nightjar (Aegotheles tatei): Found in the Solomon Islands.
This story was written in Spanish by Perla Vallejo in Ecoosfera