Bates's Nightjar

Caprimulgus batesi

Identification

29–31 cm: Sexually dimorphic.
Large, very dark rainforest Nightjar. Looks large-headed and long tailed. Close views show blackish-brown, chestnut and buff speckling to upperparts. Variable tawny buff collar on the hind nack - sometimes very pronounced and sometimes almost lacking.

In flight males show small white spots on the outer 1/4 of the wing and small white outer corners to the tail, females lack these.

Distribution

Africa:
Western Africa: southern Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Eastern Africa: western Uganda

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Forest edges in primary and dense secondary forest.

Behaviour

Diet

Their diet includes a variety of insects, such as moths, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and ants.

Vocalisaion

Call: Very loud " wow wowowowowowow". There is a slight gap/pause after the first note. Delivered from all levels of the canopy.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Avibase
3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved February 2015)

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Bates's Nightjar. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bates%27s_Nightjar

External Links

Search for photos of Bates's Nightjar in the gallery