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Photo by cskhaw
Malaysia

Alternative name: Jungle Nightjar

Caprimulgus indicus

Identification

Distribution

From southeast Siberia, Korea, Japan, east and south China to Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal to Pakistan and south to India and Sri Lanka. Northeastern birds winter in Indochina, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Fairly common. Accidental vagrant to Aleutian Islands, Alaska.

Taxonomy

Five subspecies recognized. Rasmussen (Birds of South Asia - The Ripley Guide) proposes a split into Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus and Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka. The first would occour in South India, the latter in the rest of the range.

Habitat

Forests (different types), open woodland, scrubland, farmland, plantations. In the Himalayas in sparsely vegetated ravines, in Sri Lanka in stony fields. In winter also recorded in big cities.

Behaviour

Nocturnal. Roosts in trees (quite high) and on boulders. Sings from perch or ground.
Breeding time different throughout range. From February to August in South India, May to August in Japan. Lays 1 - 2 eggs on bare ground, usually rocks, covered by vegetation. No nest.
Movements of this species are poorly understood. The northern jokata is highly migratory. Southern races maybe sedentary with some altitudinal movements.

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