- Macrodipteryx longipennis
Identification
20-23cm. Variegated grey, with a brown collar. The adult male has a wing ornament during the breeding season, with a broad central flight feather on each wing elongated to 38cm, much longer than the bird's body. 20cm or more of this is bare shaft. In normal flight, these feathers trail behind, but in display flight they are raised vertically like standards.
Distribution
Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It is sometimes included in the genus Caprimulgus.
Habitat
Dry savannas, with some scrub.
Behaviour
No nest is made; the 2 elongated and elliptical eggs are placed upon the bare ground.
The diet includes moths and beetles.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Standard-winged Nightjar. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Standard-winged_Nightjar
