Photo by the late Laurence Poh
- Caprimulgus macrurus
Identification
10–13 in (25–33 cm); 1.9–2.7 oz (55–78 g). Grey brown, black brown, and buff. Sexually dimorphic.
Distribution
Southern Asia, northeast Pakistan, East Indies to northern and eastern Australia.
Taxonomy
Andaman Nightjar C. andamanicus has been split from C. macrurus (Sangster & Rozendaal, 2004; Clements, 2007; Gill & Wright, 2008).
Subspecies
There are 6 subspecies[1]:
- Caprimulgus macrurus albonotatus NE Pakistan and n India to Bhutan and Bangladesh
- Caprimulgus macrurus bimaculatus NE India to s China, Sumatra and Riau Archipelago
- Caprimulgus macrurus johnsoni S Philippines (Palawan, Busuanga and Culion)
- Caprimulgus macrurus salvadorii N Borneo, Labuan, Balambangan, Banguey and s Sula islands
- Caprimulgus macrurus macrurus Java and Bali
- Caprimulgus macrurus schlegelii Wallacea, New Guinea, New Britain and coastal n Australia
Habitat
Open forests, woodland, scrub, and plantations.
Behaviour
Diet includes insects.
An unlined nest is made on ground and 2 pale cream, brown spotted eggs are laid. Incubation by female lasts 21–22 days; fledging period is about three weeks.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Sangster, G. and Rozendaal, F. G. (2004) Systematics on Asian birds, 41. Territorial songs and species-level taxonomy of nightjars of the Caprimulgus macrurus complex, with description of a new species. Zool. Verh. 350: 7-45.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Large-tailed Nightjar. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Large-tailed_Nightjar
