Caprimulgus atripennis
Jerdon's Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis), a quintessential master of nocturnal camouflage, is a medium-sized bird belonging to the Caprimulgidae family, renowned for its cryptic plumage and evocative calls. Measuring approximately 24-26 cm in length with a wingspan of 40-45 cm, its coloration is a complex tapestry of mottled browns, greys, and rufous, punctuated by fine black streaks, allowing it to blend flawlessly with leaf litter or tree bark during its daytime roost. Distinctive field m...
This nightjar inhabits open deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, scrublands, forest edges, and plantations with sparse undergrowth, often near water sources. It is typically found from lowlands up to elevations of about 1,500 meters in hilly terrains.
Jerdon's Nightjar feeds exclusively on nocturnal flying insects, primarily moths, beetles, crickets, and other large arthropods, captured through agile aerial hawking.
Strictly nocturnal, Jerdon's Nightjar spends its days perfectly camouflaged, roosting silently on the ground amidst leaf litter or horizontally on a low branch, often mimicking a broken stump. At dusk and dawn, it becomes highly active, embarking on sustained aerial foraging flights, sallying fro...
Jerdon's Nightjar is a resident species primarily found across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, with its distribution spanning diverse forested and scrubland habitats. The nominate subspecies, *Caprimulgus atripennis atripennis*, occupies much of peninsular India, extending from Gujarat and...
Least Concern
- Jerdon's Nightjar is a master of camouflage; its plumage perfectly mimics dead leaves or tree bark, making it nearly invisible during the day. - Unlike most birds, it lays its eggs directly on the ground with no nest structure, relying solely on the cryptic coloration of its eggs and parents fo...