Alternative names: Montane Nightjar1; Mountain Nightjar
- Caprimulgus poliocephalus
Identification
22-24 cm.
- Greyish-brown upperparts streaked blackish-brown, broadly streaked on central crown
- Broad buff or tawny-buff nuchal collar
- Greyish-brown wing-coverts, speckled greyish-white and spotted pale buff
- Blackish-brown scapulars, broadly edged buff
- White throat patch and whitish submoustachial stripe
- Greyish-brown underparts, speckled and spotted buff, greyish-white and cinnamon, becoming buff barred brown on belly and flanks
- Male with white spots on four outermost primaries, two outermost tail feathers generally white
- Female with smaller white wing spots, edged or washed buff and less white in tail
Immatures are paler than adults and often more rufous.
Similar species
Paler than Montane Nightjar and with larger white wing spots and more white on outer tail feathers. Also darker and browner than Fiery-necked Nightjar and Black-shouldered Nightjar.
Distribution
Africa: found from south-western Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia, north-eastern Uganda and northern Tanzania.
Locally common in its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Sometimes considered conspecific with Montane Nightjar. Forms with the latter a superspecies with Black-shouldered Nightjar and Fiery-necked Nightjar. The subspecies guttifer and koesteri (proposed subspecies) of Montane Nightjar are sometimes included in this species.
Habitat
Forest edges and interior of different types of montane woodland and forest, also in large wooded suburban garden and rocky terrain with juniper forest.
Occurs at 1000-3350 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on moths, beetles and grasshoppers.
Forages by hawking for prey above fields and pastures, in open woodlands and large suburban gardens. Has an extremely agile and rapid flight. Feeds also in insects attracted to artifical lights and fires.
Breeding
Poorly known. A monogamous and territorial species. Nests in small clearings at or near base of a tree or a bush. No nest built, the eggs are laid on bare ground or on leaf litter. Lays normally 2 eggs.
Movements
Probably sedentary in Africa. May move to lower altitudes in winter in Saudi Arabia.
References
- Not to be confused with Montane Nightjar, Caprimulgus ruwenzorii.
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1999. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334252
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Montane Nightjar. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Montane_Nightjar
