Her singing is confused with the cries of a ‘witch’; meet the rare bird that inhabits Ecuador

It has bulging and yellow eyes, which are sometimes orange; its plumage is in a range of predominantly brown and gray colors. And also It is the reason for myths and legends due to its presence and song, which is confused with the screams of “a witch”.

Its about stake point bird, also known as ghost and mother moon, whose scientific name is Nyctibius griseus (family Nyctibiidae).

This bird has an excellent camouflage ability and it is very complex to locate it when it is daylight because it is confused with the branches of the trees. It feeds mainly on flying insects.

Guacharacas, ocelots, cusumbos and capuchin monkeys, which were rescued, returned to their natural habitat in Manabí

Diego Cisneros, professor at the San Francisco University and director of the Museum of Zoology and Wildlifementions that this bird is more nocturnal and feeds during the flight.

“During the night they fly and with their mouths open they capture insects that are active. The name punta estaca comes from the fact that during the day these birds, to rest and even nest, are placed on logs, many at the tip, and they blend in completely since the plumage is very similar to the color of the wood, or of the bark. of the trees”, says Cisneros, who indicates that they have a greater presence in the Amazon and a little on the coast.

As for the Sierra, according to Cisneros, they are not very common. “Records in the high Andean zone show that it was lost or was swept away by a storm, a little towards the forests on the sides of the Andes, but not very high. They are mainly tropical”, details Cisneros.

In addition to these features, Abel Gallo, biologist at the fauna rehabilitation center of the Fundación Proyecto Sachahighlights others such as singing and its affectation.

“The sound of the stake tip bird is quite feared because it produces a quite interesting vocalization, which can be confused with screams or calls from a witch, because it resembles a human scream and is difficult to observe. People when they hear the bird try to see, observe who does it and associate it with myths with the goblin, even the devil and has a rather curious cry; Those who have never heard it generate a little fear”, says Gallo.

Likewise, Gallo maintains that this fear leads to the bird being in danger. “In Ecuador they have been seriously affected by human action, so in a short time this species could be in danger”laments Gallo, who calls on the public not to mistreat the bird or any other species.

This criterion is shared by Cisneros, who emphasizes that they are harmless birds and that they play a fundamental role.

Purple coot, a bird that avoids the destruction of wetlands, attacks by cats and dogs, and being run over on its way from the coast to Quito

“It depends on the perception, I like them, in many cultures they call it mother moon and other people say that it brings bad luck, these are social and cultural perceptions. They are afraid of them like many of the nocturnal birds and they do nothing to the human. They play a very important role in controlling insects, agricultural pests and those that can transmit diseases”, says Professor Cisneros.

According to the Red List of Birds of Ecuador, the stake tip bird is classified as at least risk. Unlike other species, this bird does not create its nest, rather it lays a single egg on a branch or on the end of a broken branch.

For biologists, this is something that amazes because the bird manages to prevent the egg from rolling and breaking on the ground. The egg is usually large, white in color with grey, brown, and purple spots.

“The egg has an elongated shape that prevents it from rolling. The calf stays there,” says Cisneros. And he says that, little by little, deforestation, agricultural expansion and mining are destroying their habitat.

Meanwhile, at Nyctibius griseus in other countries it is popularly known in another way. For example, in Colombia as a witch bird; in Peru as ayaymama; and, in Bolivia as guajojó.

“They are unique, there are many tourists who come to see them because of how rare they are. They do not bring bad luck, they are not witches, on the contrary they bring us benefits. The fewer of these birds we have, the more diseases or pests we will have.”Cisneros points out. (YO)