One runs along the rio São Francisco and immediately adjacent tributaries in Bahia and in the state of Minas Gerais which are in central Brazil.

The Plain-tailed nighthawk can be classified as near threatened due to loss of riverine forest and scum which lie within its small range..

A plain-tailed nighthawks diet consists mainly of insects which it finds in swarms.

The Plain-tailed nighthawk does not construct nests but instead it lays its eggs in an unlined depression on the ground.

The male is primarily in charge of protecting the nest from any predators or other intruders.