Caprimulgus donaldsoni
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar (Caprimulgus donaldsoni) is a captivating, medium-sized nocturnal bird belonging to the Caprimulgidae family, often distinguished by its remarkably cryptic plumage that allows it to blend seamlessly with its dry, thorny East African habitats. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length with a relatively short tail, this nightjar exhibits a complex pattern of mottled grey, brown, rufous, and buff, providing superb camouflage against the ground and low branches. A prom...
This nightjar primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid thornbush, acacia savanna, and dry open woodlands, preferring areas with sparse ground cover or rocky outcrops. It is typically found at low to moderate elevations, generally below 1,200 meters above sea level.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of nocturnal flying insects, predominantly moths and beetles, but also includes ants, grasshoppers, and other arthropods. It catches prey primarily through aerial hawking during its crepuscular and nocturnal activity periods.
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, spending its days roosting motionless on the ground or perched longitudinally on a low branch, relying entirely on its camouflage to avoid detection. Foraging occurs mainly after dusk and before dawn, when it engages in aerial haw...
Donaldson Smith's Nightjar is resident across a broad band of East Africa, primarily found in the lowlands and dry bushlands of the Horn of Africa and extending southwards. Its breeding and year-round range encompasses southeastern South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, and north-central ...
Least Concern
- The distinctive rufous nuchal collar is a key field mark, setting it apart from many other cryptic nightjar species in its range. - Its scientific name, 'donaldsoni', honors Arthur Donaldson Smith, an American explorer and physician who collected the first specimen in Somalia in 1894. - This ni...