It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Adults of the nominate subspecies are 23.5 to 28 cm (9.3 to 11 in) long excluding the tail streamers.

The breast and upper belly are brown with dense tawny bars and spots.

The female's crown is grayish rather than brown and the primary wing feathers have more prominent rufous markings than the male's.

Compared to the nominate, its breast markings are whiter, and the tail streamers are tipped with gray instead of white.

U. l. peruana is found on the east slope of the Andes of Peru and into central Bolivia.

One well studied nest was a scrape cleared of debris in an abandoned masonry fireplace in disturbed forest near pastureland.

The lyre-tailed nightjar's song is a "rollicking...5-11 rising wéeou-tee notes".

The male's display flight includes a rapid series of "weep-weep-weep-weepupup" sounds.