Aegotheles terborghi
The Karimui Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles terborghi) is an exceptionally rare and enigmatic nocturnal bird, known from a mere handful of specimens and confirmed sightings, all from a single isolated region in Papua New Guinea. This small owlet-nightjar measures approximately 19-20 cm in length, featuring a cryptic plumage dominated by intricate patterns of dark brown, rufous, and grey mottling, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. Its most distinctive field marks include relatively ...
This species inhabits mossy montane forest at high elevations, typically found near forest edges or clearings in remote, rugged terrain.
The Karimui Owlet-nightjar is an insectivore, primarily feeding on flying insects caught during nocturnal aerial forays.
As a strictly nocturnal bird, the Karimui Owlet-nightjar spends its days roosting in tree hollows, dense foliage, or rock crevices, relying on its cryptic plumage for concealment. Its primary foraging strategy involves sallying flights, where it perches and darts out to snatch passing insects fro...
The Karimui Owlet-nightjar is strictly endemic to the Karimui Plateau, a remote and isolated montane region within the Chimbu Province of Papua New Guinea. Its known distribution is confined to a very small geographic area, generally at elevations around 2,400 meters (ranging from approximately 2...
Data Deficient
- The Karimui Owlet-nightjar is known from only a handful of specimens and confirmed sightings, making it one of the least-known birds globally. - It was first formally described by American ornithologist John Terborgh in 1967, and named in his honor. - Its family, Aegothelidae, represents an anc...