Long-tailed Nightjar

Overview

The long-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus climacurus) is a nocturnal, insectivorous bird belonging to the family of true nightjars. It is characterised by its distinctive long, graduated tail and is found throughout mainland Africa in open environments.

Identification

• Plumage is primarily rufous-brown to gray-brown, with males displaying white forewing bands and a white throat patch, while females have buff bands.
• Body size ranges from 29–43 cm, with tail lengths varying significantly by sex and season, though it can appear shorter during moulting or non-breeding periods.
• Song consists of a rapid, high-pitched, sustained churring at approximately 42–43 units per second, which is much quicker than similar species.
• Distinguished from the slender-tailed nightjar by its relatively redder plumage where their ranges overlap.

Habitat

This species inhabits open areas across the Afrotropical realm, including savannas, semi-arid deserts, lowland forest clearings, and roadsides. It is found in numerous African countries ranging from Mauritania and Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and Sudan in the east.

Diet

The diet predominantly consists of insects such as grasshoppers, ants, beetles, moths, and winged termites. It forages mainly near trails and open spaces, perching on the ground before flying up to catch insects passing through its visual field.

Did you know?

When hunting over water or marshland, the bird sustains flight in a straight line before abruptly swerving or diving for its prey. It also drinks by hovering at progressively lower altitudes until it is about 20 cm above the surface, then dropping to dip its beak.