Chocó Poorwill

The Chocó poorwill is 19.5 to 22.5 cm (7.7 to 8.9 in) long; one female weighed 52 g (1.8 oz). Adults are generally variations on dark brown. The head is grayish with many black spots, the back grayish with cinnamon and rufous speckles, and the rump browner with grayish white speckles. The wings are brown to dark brown with tawny, cinnamon, and rufous spots and speckles and two prominent white spots. The chin is dark brown with cinnamon speckles and the throat has a large white patch. The breast is brown with cinnamon barring and speckles, the belly and flanks blackish brown with dense narrow grayish white bars. Juveniles are similar to adults but lack the two white spots on the wing and their back and breast markings are more chestnut.

The Chocó poorwill is found on the Pacific slope from the northern part of Colombia's Chocó Department south into Ecuador's Esmeraldas Province and perhaps further south as well. It inhabits the Pacific/Chocó natural region, a biome characterized by very humid evergreen forest. It appears to favor edges such as along rivers and in treefall openings. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).

The Chocó poorwill is crepuscular and nocturnal. It has been observed foraging by sallies from the ground or a perch and also in continuous flight above the canopy. Its diet is insects but the details have not been studied.