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Nightjar - Tanzania (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ekopa
- Start date
Judging only by ebird photos I don't think it's this: plumage patterns are too marked. Freckled looks like it's speckled all over (no strong pattern)
Agree, this is the one that we can confidently exclude
Given location and tail-pattern, the options seem to be montane nightjar, freckled nightjar and (maybe) plain nightjar. I don't think I'd rule out freckled nightjar on the basis of this soft-focused photo as the plumage details may well not show up. Its tail seems to be graduated which I can't reconcile with any option - unless it's just moulting.
Not recorded in Serengeti, usually at higher elevations
The lowland counterpart which is very similar is Fiery-necked Nightjar, recorded in Serengeti, but should have visible rufous collar. Perhaps not visible due to low quality of the photo
Fairly well out of range acc. 'the' field guide, edn 1 - but its maps are known to be fairly rubbish.
Plain Nightjar is not the list on eBird either
Possible options are Fiery-necked, Square-tailed, Slender-tailed, Swamp, Freckled, Sombre Nightjars
4 observations on eBird in the general Serengeti area
Citizen science with a very difficult group...
Square-tailed nightjar and slender-tailed nightjar have (apparently) entirely white tail-sides, unlike the OP's bird.
Dusky/sombre nightjar should indeed have been on my list of options
Also, don't forget the recent lumps of ruwenzorii etc into Montane/Abyssinian. Without checking, perhaps the clue's in the name (Montane)Square-tailed nightjar and slender-tailed nightjar have (apparently) entirely white tail-sides, unlike the OP's bird.
Dusky/sombre nightjar should indeed have been on my list of options
I think the tail-sides are key here, that's why I thought of Fiery-neckedSquare-tailed nightjar and slender-tailed nightjar have (apparently) entirely white tail-sides, unlike the OP's bird.
Dusky/sombre nightjar should indeed have been on my list of options
. Some looks goodRwenzori is also a highland species
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
No longer a species on the IOC as The Fern noted, re-lumped with Montane.
Why not European Nightjar of the central Asian ssp sarudnyi? Especially as it looks rather long-winged
faansiepeacock.com
Shot in the dark: field ID of nightjars
ABOVE: Can nightjars be identified when they are not in the hand? I promise that if you summon all your energy, give me 2 hours of your time, and wade all the way through this exhausting article, you will be able to tell that this is a male European Nightjar! Whether it's worth the effort
faansiepeacock.com
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Interesting, I was thinking of the nominate European Nighjar but dropped the idea because of a very plan coloration, ssp sarudnyi and even plumipes/unwini should be much "sandier"Why not Europeab Nightjar of the central Asian ssp sarudnyi? Especially as it looks rather long-winged
Shot in the dark: field ID of nightjars
ABOVE: Can nightjars be identified when they are not in the hand? I promise that if you summon all your energy, give me 2 hours of your time, and wade all the way through this exhausting article, you will be able to tell that this is a male European Nightjar! Whether it's worth the effort
And excellent link, thanks!
