Definition & Meaning of "oilbird"

What is an "oilbird"?

An oilbird is an intriguing bird species found in the tropical forests of South America, particularly in Venezuela, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago. It possesses unique adaptations that set it apart from other avian species. The oilbird has dark, plumage, resembling a large, stout, and nocturnal pigeon. It is known for its excellent echolocation abilities, which it uses to navigate in the darkness of caves, and its preferred roosting and nesting sites. As the name suggests, the oilbird feeds primarily on fruits, particularly those of palm trees. Its diet includes palm fruits rich in oil, which contribute to the bird's ability to produce copious amounts of oily, regurgitated fruit pulp. Oilbirds play an important role in seed dispersal, as they swallow the fruits whole and excrete the seeds intact during flight.