Jerdon's Nightjar
Caprimulgus atripennis
Large-headed nightjar with a bright white throat. Male shows bright white patches near the wingtips and on the edges of the tail that are buffy-brown in females. Large-tailed Nightjar is very similar; in Jerdon’s, look for less-streaked crown and smaller wing patches. Indian Nightjar is smaller and much more intricately patterned, lacking the white throat. Song is a strange bubbling “bwr-wr-wr,” usually heard at dusk or dawn in wooded areas.
Identification
Like other nightjars, it has a wide gape, long wings, soft downy plumage and nocturnal habits. At 26 cm in overall length, it is almost a head's length larger than the Indian nightjar (C. asiaticus), and differs from that species in its barred tail, rufous rear neck, and wing bars. The vermiculations on the crown are fine giving it a nearly uniform shade. The collar is blackish. The male has a white patch on each wing. Otherwise, their cryptic plumage is mainly variegated buff and brown, as typical for the dark tropical woodland nightjars. This has an unbroken white gorget like the long-tailed nightjar but the tail is shorter. The Sri Lankan aequabilis is slightly smaller and darker.<p>Its typical call is a fast repetitive ch-woo-woo. Another call is said to be a frog-like croak.
Taxonomy
Thomas C. Jerdon first described this species in an annotation to his 1845 treatment of the jungle nightjar (C. indicus) in the Illustrations of Indian ornithology. Subsequently, it was sometimes lumped again with C. macrurus, but the co-occurrence of this form and large-tailed nightjar C. macrurus without interbreeding in the northeast of the Indian peninsula was noted in 1987 suggesting their distinctness. It has since been reaffirmed as a full species based on studies on vocalization. The subspecies in Sri Lanka is C. a. aequabilis. Jerdon's type locality mentioned as Ghauts has been considered to be the Eastern Ghats west of Nellore.
- Scientific name
- Caprimulgus atripennis
- Authority
- Jerdon, 1845
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Genus
- Caprimulgus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Open woodland, scrub, and cultivation is the habitat of this nocturnal bird. It flies after sundown with an easy, silent fluttering flight, appearing a bit like an outsized moth at a casual glance. During the day, Jerdon's nightjar lies silent upon the ground, concealed by its plumage; it is then difficult to detect, blending in with the soil.<p>Nocturnal insects, such as moths, are its food. Unlike the Indian nightjar (C. asiaticus), this species rarely rests on roads during the night, preferring to alight on bushes. This makes it harder to spot, since it is not so readily seen in vehicle headlights. It however roosts on the ground although calling from the trees.<p>The breeding season is March to July in India and February to May in Sri Lanka. No nest is made; the two marbled eggs are placed upon the bare ground. The brooding bird, covering them closely with its camouflage plumage, is their best protection. The chicks can crawl away from the nest soon after hatching and hide among leaves when alarmed.
Conservation
Jerdon's nightjar has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004, as it has a large range, and the population trend is considered stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Guianan Toucanet
Selenidera piperivora
Small toucan of rainforest canopy that is most often seen at fruiting trees at forest edge. Smaller than an aracari and tends not to occur in large groups. Sexes dissimilar, unlike other toucans in range; from below, note mostly black (male) or dark gray (female) plumage and colorful facial pattern. Reaches from a perch to pluck fruit similar to other toucans. Calls include croaking and wailing sounds which may not initially be recognized as coming from a bird.
Slaty Elaenia
Elaenia strepera
Highly migratory flycatcher; it nests from about September through March along the east slope of the Andes in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, then disperses as far as northern South America. It is mostly gray, with a pale belly, faint wingbars, and a broken eyering. Bill is stubby and yellow at the base. Male has a white crown patch that is usually hidden; females and immatures are tinged olive. Inhabits humid forest, and very inconspicuous when not singing. Typical song is an accelerating, toneless rasp, and it remains almost totally silent outside of its breeding range.
Pied Butcherbird
Cracticus nigrogularis
Medium-sized ambush-hunter with a long gray bill with a dark, hooked tip. Adult has black head, upper breast, back, and tail that contrast starkly with white nape, breast, belly, and wing pattern. Immature similarly patterned in brown instead of black. More likely than Gray Butcherbird to perch atop trees and poles. Beautiful fluting, whistling song, sometimes heard at night.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.