Great Eared Nightjar: The Bird That Looks Like a Baby Dragon! (+Video and Photos)

The great eared nightjar, with large eyes, ear-like feathers, and a dragon-like appearance, is one of Asia's most unusual birds. Get to know its features.

Sefir Arjan - Sometimes nature creates creatures that at first glance look more like mythical characters than real animals. The Great Eared Nightjar is one of these amazing creatures; A nocturnal bird with large round eyes, prominent feathers on the head and an appearance that resembles a small dragon. This bird, known as the "little dragon", is not only different in appearance, but also has interesting behaviors; From hiding among the dry leaves of the forest to laying eggs on the ground, without making a normal nest.

What is the big-eared nocturnal bird?

The large-eared nightingale with the scientific name Lyncornis macrotis is from the nightingale family; A group of birds that are active mainly at dusk and night. This bird lives in parts of South and Southeast Asia and can be seen in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines.

This bird usually lives in tropical forests and humid forest areas; Environments where dense vegetation and leaves on the ground provide a good opportunity for camouflage.

The body length of the big-eared nocturnal is about 30 to 40 cm. Despite this relatively significant size, it is not easy to recognize it in its natural habitat; Because the color of its feathers is well coordinated with the surrounding environment.

Why is this bird called "little dragon"?

The most important feature of this bird is its unusual appearance. Big and round eyes, small beak and prominent feathers that can be seen on both sides of the top of the head have made a different face for him. These long feathers, which look like ears, are one of the main reasons for the bird's resemblance to mythical creatures.

The combination of these features has made the big-eared nightingale look more like a baby dragon with a furry appearance than a normal bird. In some angles, the shape of the head and its feathers can be reminiscent of fictional characters or even the mask of a fictional hero.

Of course, this similarity is only superficial and this bird has nothing to do with legendary dragons. Its peculiar features are the result of natural adaptations that have been formed during evolution.

Amazing camouflage among forest leaves

One of the most interesting features of the big-eared nocturnal is its ability to disappear into its surroundings. The feathers of this bird have a combination of brown, gray, black and chestnut colors. These color patterns help its body to be less noticeable among dry leaves, soil, branches and plant debris.

This bird usually remains motionless during the day and hides from predators with the help of its natural camouflage. In such a situation, a person may even pass near it without noticing its presence.

Camouflage is very important for a bird resting on the forest floor. Unlike many birds that rely on tree branches for nesting or resting, the great-eared nightingale spends a significant portion of its life close to the ground. For this reason, the color harmony of the feathers with the environment plays an important role in its survival.

Why does this bird lay its eggs on the ground?

Perhaps the strangest feature of the big-eared nocturnal is the way it reproduces. Unlike many other species, this bird does not build a normal nest on tree branches; Rather, it usually lays an egg directly on the forest floor or in a shallow bed of leaves.

At first glance, this method may seem dangerous; Because eggs and chicks are more at risk compared to high nests. However, the natural camouflage of the bird and the surrounding environment can help the egg remain hidden.

The coloring of the parents' feathers and the color pattern of the forest environment make them more difficult for predators to recognize. Parents are also involved in the care of the egg and after hatching, they help to maintain and feed the chick.

However, the exact reason for choosing such a method for laying eggs is still not completely clear. It is possible that camouflage and habitat characteristics play a role in this behavior, but a definite reason for it cannot be considered.

night vision; Another feature of this bird

The big-eared nightjar has interesting adaptations for low-light activity. One of them is the presence of a layer of tissue behind the eye called tapetum lucidum. This structure can reflect light towards the retina and help make better use of the available light.

Such a structure can be seen in the eyes of some other animals, including cats, and it is one of the reasons why their eyes shine in low light. In birds such as the great-eared nightingale, this feature can help better recognize the environment in low-light conditions.

Of course, the ability of this bird to see at night does not mean seeing in absolute darkness; Rather, the structure of the eye helps to use the limited light of the environment more effectively.

What is the food of the big eared nocturnal?

The strange appearance of this bird may give the impression that we are dealing with a large predator, but its main food is insects. Willows, beetles and other flying insects form part of the diet of the big-eared nocturnal.

This bird hunts flying insects at dusk and in the hours of darkness. Its opening and relatively large mouth helps to catch small prey in the air.

One of the interesting things about nightingales is that they don't necessarily stay on the ground to hunt insects. The big-eared nightjar has a powerful flight and can catch its prey in the air. It has also been reported that it can drink water by flying close to the surface of the water while passing over rivers and lakes.

In this way, this bird moves between two different lifestyles: during the day it hides with camouflage on the ground and at night it flies to find food.

The large-eared nocturnal appearance is not its only unusual feature; His voice can also be interesting. The voice of this bird is described as deep and special and can be heard in the forest environment during twilight hours, i.e. near dusk and dawn.

This sound can include a short and sharp sound and then a longer and whistle-like sound. Such calls play a role in bird communication behaviors, including mating and territory declaration.

Since this bird hides well during the day and is active at night, its sounds are one of the ways to reveal its presence in its natural habitat.

Is the big-eared nightingale a rare bird?

This bird is distributed in parts of South and Southeast Asia, but being active at night, strong camouflage and the habit of resting on the forest floor make it difficult to observe. Therefore, not finding it in an area does not necessarily mean that it is rare there.

To assess the conservation status of a species, one should pay attention to reliable information about population size, its change process, distribution range and habitat threats. The mere appearance of a bird or the difficulty of seeing it is not enough to conclude that it is endangered.

Like many animals of tropical forests, preserving natural habitats is also important for the survival of this bird; Because forests, in addition to providing food sources, provide suitable places for rest, camouflage and reproduction.

A real bird with the appearance of mythical creatures

The great-eared nightingale is an example of the amazing diversity of birds; A species that has become one of the most attractive birds for wildlife enthusiasts with its large eyes, ear-like feathers, special voice and different behavior during egg laying.

The dragon-like appearance of this bird might be the first thing that catches our attention, but what makes it really interesting is its natural adaptations. The ability to camouflage on the forest floor, operate at night, and hunt insects in flight all show that even the strangest appearances can be accompanied by elaborate survival strategies.

This bird reminds us that we don't always have to travel to the world of legends to see amazing creatures; Sometimes one of the most interesting faces of nature is hidden among the dry leaves of a tropical forest.