Succiacapre indiano

Caprimulgus asiaticus

Uccello notturno dalla colorazione criptica. Si noti la striscia bianca a "baffo", il collare marrone dorato e le penne appuntite color camoscio e nere sopra l'ala. Molto più intricatamente marcato del Succiacapre codalunga; manca anche della gola bianca di quella specie. Non è disegnato in modo così diffuso come il Succiacapre della savana e il Succiacapre della giungla, entrambi i quali mancano del "baffo" bianco e del collare chiaro dell'Indiano. Il maschio mostra chiazze bianche brillanti vicino alle punte delle ali e alle punte della coda in volo. Si trova in una varietà di habitat boschivi, dalla foresta secca collinare ai margini dei giardini. Ascoltate il suo canto distintivo, un battito accelerato simile a una pallina da ping-pong che cade e rimbalza rapidamente sul pavimento.

Identificazione

This nightjar is small and short-tailed with white corners to the tail, a golden nape and collar, dark cheeks and white patches on the sides of the throat. The crown is grey and the breast is finely barred in brown. The males have more white on the tail while the female is more heavily streaked on the crown. It is differentiated from Sykes's nightjar by the dark undertail and from Jerdon's nightjar by the shorter tail and white patches on the sides of the throat.<p>The call is distinctive and has been likened to a stone skipped on a frozen lake (due to which it was also called the "ice-bird" in colonial India) or a ping-pong ball bouncing rapidly and coming to rest.<p>It flies after sundown with an easy, silent moth-like flight. During the day, Indian nightjar lies still on the ground, concealed by its plumage; it is then difficult to detect, blending in with the soil.

Tassonomia

The populations show clinal variation with paler plumage in the dry zone of northwestern India. The population of Sri Lanka is named eidos and is darker and greyer overall. In northwestern India, subspecies gurgaoni is very pale sandy buff with nominate populations of peninsular India showing considerable variation.

Nome scientifico
Caprimulgus asiaticus
Autorità
Latham, 1790
Ordine
Caprimulgiformi
Famiglia
Caprimulgidi
Genere
Caprimulgus

Areale e habitat

The species is found in open woodland, scrub, and cultivation. It usually sits on the ground or low trees and is not found on high perches.<p>The species is found from northwestern India and adjoining parts of Pakistan but not found in the arid desert region. It is found south of the Himalayas in the low elevations east to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam. It is also found in Sri Lanka.<p>No nest is made; the two beautifully marbled creamy pink eggs are placed upon the bare ground during February to September; the brooding bird, sitting closely, is well camouflaged. Eggs may be moved short distances. The newly hatched chick is covered in down with brown above and light rufous below. The eye is open on hatching and the chick can sit upright and make a weak sound.

Migrazione
Resident species

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione
stable

Foto

Distribuzione

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