Montane nightjar

Montane nightjar

Mountain nightjar, Abyssinian nightjar

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Caprimulgus poliocephalus

The montane nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus ), mountain nightjar or Abyssinian nightjar, is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is native to upland regions of Central and Eastern Africa where it is a locally common species.

Appearance

The montane nightjar is a rather dark nightjar growing to a length of about 23 cm (9.1 in). It has somewhat tawny, blackish or chocolate brown dappled plumage. The male has white spots on its four main primaries and the outer edge of the tail is white. The female has buff-coloured spots on its primaries and less white on the tail. The call is a nasal ank-ank-ank, often followed by a high-pitched whistle piiiyu-pirrr, the first syllable descending and then rising, and the second syllable tremulous and descending.

Distribution

Geography

The montane nightjar is native to Central and Eastern Africa. Its range includes Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. It occurs at altitudes between about 1,000 and 3,350 m (3,300 and 11,000 ft). Like other nightjars, it is nocturnal, feeding on moths and other large insects. It is mostly a forest bird, but is also found in plantations, cultivated areas near forests, and in well-wooded urban areas.

Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

Population number

The montane nightjar is a common species with a very wide range. No special threats have been identified and the population trend is thought to be stable. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

References

1. Montane nightjar Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montane_nightjar
2. Montane nightjar on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22730103/95024543
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/619307

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About