Square-tailed Nightjar
Caprimulgus fossii
Medium-sized, typical nightjar with bold pale spots on the back. Both sexes have a broad pale patch on the outer tail that is white in males and buff in females. Found in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats that are usually moist and often near water. Song is an extraordinarily long, dry trill that changes in speed and pitch. Most similar to Swamp Nightjar, but has smaller pale patches in the outer tail and lacks a blackish cheek; male has a white trailing edge to the wing in flight. Also similar to Montane Nightjar but found in different habitat.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Caprimulgus fossii
- Authority
- Hartlaub, 1857
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Caprimulgus
Range and habitat
It occurs mainly south of the equator in Africa, but enters the tropics during the northern hemisphere summer. An isolated race occurs in Equatorial Guinea and western Gabon. It is a seasonal visitor to the northern DRC, northern Tanzania, southern Kenya and southern Uganda. It occurs year-round in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-crowned Tityra
Tityra inquisitor
Handsome, mostly silvery gray bird of tropical lowland forest and adjacent semi-open areas with taller trees. Usually found at mid-upper levels of fruiting trees, sometimes in small groups that mix readily with the commoner Masked Tityra. Black-crowned is told from slightly larger Masked by its solidly black bill. Male is more silvery overall, with a black cap; female had brown face and smaller black cap. Tityras nest in tree cavities, that they sometimes steal from woodpeckers.
Pemba Scops-Owl
Otus pembaensis
A large scops-owl that is endemic to the Tanzanian island of Pemba. A fairly plain owl with small ear tufts. The base coloration varies from brown to rufous. Within its tiny range, fairly common in forest, woodland, and plantations. Usually detected by its voice: a single hoot that is repeated after an irregular pause of several seconds. Males and females both call, though the male’s hoots are lower.
Middle American Screech-Owl
Megascops guatemalae
Small, cryptically patterned, yellow-eyed owl of tropical lowland forest from Mexico to Panama. Tends to stay well hidden in the understory. Cannot be identified readily by sight, but it is the only screech-owl throughout most of its range and within its habitat. Song is a purring trill that can easily be mistaken for the purring of a toad or insect. Plumage varies from grayish brown overall to reddish.
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