Caprimulgus macrurus
The Large-tailed Nightjar, *Caprimulgus macrurus*, is a master of camouflage, a nocturnal marvel widespread across the Old World tropics. Measuring 25-33 cm (10-13 inches) in length and weighing 50-90 grams (1.8-3.2 oz), its plumage is a cryptic blend of mottled grey-brown, buff, and rufous, perfectly mimicking dead leaves or bark. A striking crescent-shaped white patch on the throat is a key field mark, contrasting with its otherwise subdued coloration. Males boast prominent white patches on...
Found in a variety of open dry woodlands, scrubland, secondary growth, clearings, and forest edges, often favoring areas near water. It thrives from sea level up to moderate elevations, typically around 1,500 meters.
Feeds almost exclusively on a wide variety of nocturnal flying insects, including moths, beetles, termites, winged ants, and mosquitoes, captured during aerial sallies.
Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, the Large-tailed Nightjar spends its days perfectly camouflaged, roosting lengthwise on branches or directly on the ground. It is an aerial insectivore, employing a 'hawking' strategy where it sallies from a perch or the ground to catch flying insects in mid-a...
The Large-tailed Nightjar boasts an expansive range across tropical and subtropical Asia and Australasia. It is primarily a resident species, found throughout the Indian Subcontinent, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Its distribution extends across Southeast Asia, encompassing M...
Least Concern
- Its common name, 'Nightjar,' refers to its nocturnal habits and the jarring, repetitive quality of its calls, not an old myth about 'jarring' milk from goats, though it was historically associated with 'goatsuckers'. - Possesses incredible camouflage, allowing it to seemingly vanish into its su...