Meet the bird that looks like a 'baby dragon', but is the most unique voice in the night sky

Time of India

6 days ago

The Great Eared Nightjar, a bird resembling a 'baby dragon,' inhabits the dense forests of South and Southeast Asia. Its mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the forest floor. While known for its eerie calls, this elusive bird also possesses a surprisingly melodic song, showcasing its diverse vocal abilities and adaptations for survival.
N
ature is full of paradoxes, as sometimes dangerous-looking beings are also gifted with skills and adaptations that go far beyond imagination, according to their appearances.
One such mysterious creature remains hidden in the shadows of dense forests across South and Southeast Asia. Popularly known as the 'baby dragon' of the avian world, this nocturnal bird compels us to recall our interest in the mythical appearance of animals and birds. Despite this, this species remains virtually unseen during daylight hours because of its camouflage.
Which bird is called the 'baby dragon'
The Great Eared Nightjar, often called a 'baby dragon' due to its exceptional appearance, is the largest nightjar species in terms of length, measuring between 31 and 41 cm.
With long ear tufts, a white throat band, and mottled brown, gray, and black feathers, it resembles a tiny dragon more than a typical bird.
It is native to dense lowland and montane forests across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and due to its elusive nature, the secretive species lives in thick vegetation that conceals it during the day. The IUCN and experts consider it to be of Least Concern, indicating stable populations, though habitat loss remains a potential threat.
What helps this bird in camouflaging?
By day, the great eared nightjar remains motionless on the forest floor, blending easily into leaf litter and fallen twigs. Rather than constructing a nest, it lays a single egg directly on bare ground or in a shallow scrape, protecting its egg and chick through camouflage of its feathers. Both parents take turns incubating, and the hatchling remains immobile among the leaves until it can fly.
Voice of the night
The 'baby dragon's' call begins with a crisp, sharp 'tsiik,' followed by a pause and a haunting two-syllable whistle, 'ba‑haaww', which resonates through forests at dawn and dusk.
But surprisingly, despite its eerie nickname and haunting nighttime calls, the great eared nightjar also sings in surprisingly sweet, melodic tones during certain moments, especially in calm twilight hours. Its vocal ability is supported by a highly adapted vocal organ called the syrinx, which helps it to produce a wide range of complex sounds. This helps the bird not only to communicate across dense forests but also to charm potential mates with softer, musical notes.
While it's often remembered for its dragon-like look and ghostly calls, this unique bird can also be quite the gentle forest singer when it wants to be.