Golden Nightjar
Caprimulgus eximius
Small, pale nightjar of the Sahel zone. Plumage is a beautiful golden with silvery bands. Bold white wing patches and tail corners visible in flight. Nocturnal. Day-roosts on the ground under bushes. Inhabits semi-desert with low shrubs and scattered trees, often in rocky areas. Song is a repeated sequence of rapid disyllabic notes, "k-ku, k-ku, k-ku, k-ku…"
Identification
The golden nightjar is a distinctively coloured, smallish nightjar which measures 23–25 cm in length. When at rest the golden nightjar appears large headed and the upperparts and wing coverts are tawny buff marked with greyish-white, dark brown edged and speckled, square shaped spots. It has a large whitish patch on its throat, the upper breast is similarly marked to the upperparts but this fades towards the unmarked tawny-buff lower breast and belly. In flight it shows a large white spot towards the tips of the wings and in poor light it appears very pale. Both sexes are alike.<p>The Golden nightjar's song is low pitched churr which may last quite a long time and is delivered at dawn and dusk from the ground.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Caprimulgus eximius
- Authority
- Temminck, 1826
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Caprimulgus
Range and habitat
The golden nightjar occurs from northern Senegal and Mauritania in the west eastwards to Sudan. In 2015 a female golden nightjar was seen and it, or another, was later found dead in southern Western Sahara and in 2016 a number of birds were noted in the same area suggesting that it may host a breeding population. In 2019, the breeding of the species in the area was confirmed. These were the first records of this species in the Palearctic. The golden nightjar occurs in arid steppes and semi-desert, also on rock, gravelly or stony terrain with clumps of vegetation. It avoids dense scrub or woodland.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Musk Duck
Biziura lobata
Large and chunky stiff-tailed diving duck with a heavy triangular bill. Floats very low in the water. Both sexes are dark grayish, but male has an obvious lobe of skin dangling from its chin. Usually observed on the water, regularly diving while feeding. Bill is much shorter and heavier than Blue-billed Duck.
Green Racquet-tail
Prioniturus luconensis
A rare medium-sized parrot of lowland and foothill forest on Luzon. The two central tail feathers have extended shafts ending in a racket shape. Overall green in color, slightly darker on the back, with paler head and underparts and a pale bill. Male is more yellowish-green in color. Overlaps geographically with Luzon Racquet-tail, but Green is found at lower elevations and lacks the brownish back. Also overlaps with Blue-naped Parrot, but has a pale rather than red bill. Voice consists of ringing metallic squawks.
Puna Ibis
Plegadis ridgwayi
Rather stocky, all-dark ibis of wetlands and lakes in high Andes; also wanders to coastal lowlands, where can be locally numerous. Usually in small groups. Feeds by probing with its downcurved bill. Breeding adult has dark chestnut head and neck, and red face. Nonbreeding and immature have whitish streaking on head and neck, and duller face. In flight, feet project only a short distance beyond tail tip. Compare with more slender and long-legged White-faced Ibis, but no range overlap.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.