Caprimulgus batesi
The Bates's Nightjar (Caprimulgus batesi) is a large, enigmatic nightjar native to the dense lowland rainforests of Central Africa. Measuring approximately 29-32 cm in length and weighing between 82-110 grams, it boasts a remarkably cryptic plumage of mottled browns, blacks, and rufous, providing perfect camouflage against the forest floor. Males are distinguished by small white spots on their primaries, often visible in flight. This species belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, part of the or...
Found primarily in dense, humid lowland primary rainforests, often venturing into mature secondary growth, and occasionally in cocoa or oil palm plantations at elevations typically below 1000 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on large nocturnal insects, primarily moths and beetles, captured during aerial sallies or continuous hawking flights.
Bates's Nightjar is strictly nocturnal and crepuscular, emerging at dusk and dawn to forage, and spending its days perfectly camouflaged on the forest floor or perched lengthwise on low branches. Its foraging strategy involves sallying out from a perch to snatch insects in mid-air or sustained ha...
The Bates's Nightjar is restricted to a relatively narrow band across equatorial Central Africa. Its breeding range extends from southern Cameroon eastward through the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaching western Uganda. Is...
Least Concern
- Bates's Nightjar holds the distinction of being one of the largest nightjar species in Africa, making its elusive nature even more remarkable. - Its scientific name, 'batesi,' honors the American naturalist George Latimer Bates, who extensively studied birds in West Africa. - Unlike many birds,...