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Photo by cskhaw
Malaysia

Alternative name: Jungle Nightjar Includes Grey Nightjar and Palau 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^[1]:

• C.i. hazarae
• C.i. indicus
• C.i. kelaarti
• C.i. jotaka
• C.i. phalaena

Rasmussen (Birds of South Asia - The Ripley Guide) proposes a split into Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus (monotypic) and Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka (remaining subspecies). The first would occour in South India, the latter in the rest of the range. Additionally, Palau Nightjar Caprimulgus phalaena has been proposed as another full species.

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.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. Birdforum thread discussing taxonomy of Nightjars and Frogmouths.

External Links