Quick Take
- One bird known as the great eared nightjar looks quite similar to fictional dragons.
- These cute birds have ear tuffs that resemble horns and pointy little noses.
- Their plumage is mottled brown, grey, and black, providing excellent camouflage.
- Great eared nightjars are nocturnal and hunt similar to owls.
While many lizard species remind us of our favorite fictional dragons, with their scales and long tails, we generally don’t think of birds as resembling dragons. However, the great eared nightjar looks just like a baby dragon. This Instagram post by @globalpositivenews shows some photos of these cute birds. Read here to learn more about these birds disguised as dragons.
A great eared nightjar blending in with a branch in the woods.
About the Great Eared Nightjar
The great eared nightjar is famous for its dragon-like appearance. They are average-sized birds that grow to about a foot in length. Their dragon-like look comes from a handful of unique features. Perhaps their most dragon-esque feature is their ear tufts. These large feathers on their head look almost like dragon horns. Like lynxes, nightjars can move their ear tufts back and forth. These nocturnal birds also have large, round eyes, helping them see in the dark. Their plumage is a mottled mix of brown, grey, and black that looks like the bark of a tree, providing excellent camouflage. Their beak, mouth, and slightly forward chin add to the overall mini-dragon appearance.
These birds inhabit subtropical rainforests and lowlands throughout South and Southeast Asia. They can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. As nocturnal hunters, they are most active at dusk and throughout the night. Similar to owls, they silently hunt for insects such as moths and beetles with their wide mouths and excellent night vision. With their bark-like plumage, they are able to camouflage during the day. While they may behave like other nocturnal birds, it is difficult to deny they are the mini dragons of the avian world.
