nightjars in the kruger i.d help please (1 Viewer)

[loyalist chris]

hi, 3 nightjars remain unidentified. if anyone has any opinions i'd very much appreciate. they were taken on the 20th of november in the kruger

 

[rockfowl]

I'd suggest Mozambique Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii, I'll check refs later, its been a while.

Edit: Refs look good in Cleere but I see BBB has suggested otherwise...
Should add that Mozambique aka Square-tailed

 

[birdboybowley]

I thought Rufous-cheeked by the strong wingbars......

 

[Tib78]

Hi Mark, Adam,

Personally, when it comes to ID silent Caprimulgus on the ground, I find that nightmares is better suited than nightjars...

Generally the first clue is provided by the habitat, because when a bird is in a position that doesn't show any critical feature for ID (tail or secondaries edging, primary pattern, etc...) a positive ID is generally hardly reachable. And especially so in this case, as the most likely species (Mozambique, Rufous-cheeked and Fiery-necked) are very close regarding upperparts pattern...

I think a precise location and a description of the habitat could help, for example Rufous-cheeked is quite localised in the Kruger and mostly absent from the Southern part of the park...and honestly I think there is no way the first bird can be IDed with this single image.

 

[rockfowl]

Interesting Tib's.

I initially put Fiery-necked or fossii as my initial choice and then ruled it out on editing due to the strength of the covert bar, surely most prominent in fossii?
I didn't consider Rufous-cheeked, but having a quick look at refs, they can also show a strong bar in the south it seems - http://www.pbase.com/dubisha/image/137236310

Nightmares, I'll remember that

 

[Tib78]

I didn't consider Rufous-cheeked, but having a quick look at refs, they can also show a strong bar in the south it seems - http://www.pbase.com/dubisha/image/137236310

That's actually a fossii Mark...and this bird perfectly illustrates the point I wanted to make about the upperparts, this bird looks quite different to a standard fossii and the upperparts pattern is somewhat reminiscent of Swamp nightjar (to my eyes at least). Likewise, I have pictures of a breeding male Standard-winged nightjar (so no ID troubles there ) that is unbelievably dark, much darker than any SWN I have seen. It's frustrating, but in my opinion, many nightjars are best left unIDed unless you're able to see some diagnostic features like primary and tail pattern.

I have little experience of Rufous-cheeked, most birds of this species I have been able to ID where seen in the Kalahari. After comparing a few pictures, it looks like the bar formed by the lesser coverts is indeed weaker than in fossii but what about Fiery-necked?

I don't have a copy of Cleere's yet, any review of the book available?

Edit: I have attached the photo of that dark SWN.

 

[njlarsen]

I don't have a copy of Cleere's yet, any review of the book available?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=184514&highlight=Cleere
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=174355&highlight=Cleere

Niels

 

[Tib78]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=184514&highlight=Cleere
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=174355&highlight=Cleere

Niels

Thanks.B

 

[birdboybowley]

I've got the book and still unsure!!!

 

[loyalist chris]

the birds were all seen around punda maria in the far north of kruger. we had fiery-necked, pennant-winged and square-tailed in the evening but these birds didnt play ball and fly around in front of the lights for us.

 

[loyalist chris]

one of our guides in the cape sent the photos to a nightjar specialist who replied " although the shots arent very good they seem to have buff coloured collars and the colour doesnt seem to extend down onto the breast which would make them rufous-cheeked". thanks to everyone for your opinions and help

 

[Dave Kennedy]

I confess I rarely attempt to identify nightjars on visuals alone. All my positive ID's have been based on calls. A calling bird is easy, since most calls are readily identifiable.
Dave