Oilbird is a cave-dwelling bird found in the tropics of northern South America that somewhat resembles an owl. Oilbirds have cinnamon-brown feathers with white dots. Adults measure from 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 centimeters) long. Young oilbirds are unusually plump and contain so much oily fat that they were once slaughtered by people, who used the fat as lamp oil and cooking oil. Oilbirds are also called guacharos.
Oilbirds spend most of their time roosting or flying because their feet are poorly developed for walking. They are active at night and feed largely on the fruits of palm and laurel trees.
Oilbirds build nests of seeds and bird droppings on top of rocks or ledges deep in caves. An oilbird finds its way about caves and at night by means of echolocation. The bird makes sharp clicking sounds that echo off objects to tell the bird where to fly. Oilbirds also make loud, shrill calls at night.
