Natal nightjar
| Natal nightjar | ||||||||||
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Natal nightjar ( Caprimulgus natalensis ) subspecies accrae |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Caprimulgus natalensis | ||||||||||
| Smith , 1845 |
The Natal nightjar ( Caprimulgus natalensis ) is a species of bird from the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae).
It occurs in Angola , Ethiopia , Botswana , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Gabon , Gambia , Cameroon , Mali , Namibia , Zambia , Sierra Leone , South Africa and Uganda .
Their range includes moist grassland and marshland from 600 to 2200 m.
description
The Natal nightjar is 20–24 cm tall, the male weighs 86 and the female 65 g. The top is brown or gray-brown, heavily mottled with large irregular dark brown markings. It is similar to the nightjar , but is not so dark, the neck band is less clear. It can also be confused with the Welwitsch nightjar , but has wider white on the control feathers , no white wing bands, and appears short-tailed when in flight.
voice
The call of the male is described as a uniform “chop, chop, chop, chop”, called from the ground, and as a melodiously laughing “whip hululululu” in flight.
Geographic variation
The following subspecies are recognized:
- C. n. Natalensis Smith , 1845, nominate form - scattered in Gambia, Mali, Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa
- C. n. Accrae Shelley , 1875 - coastal strip from Sierra Leone to Cameroon
- C. n. Mpasa Smithers , 1954 - Zambia
- C. n. Carpi Smithers , 1954 - Angola, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana
Way of life
The diet consists of moths , termites and beetles .
The breeding season is between March in Sierra Leone, April to May in Nigeria, April to June in Kenya and August to October in Gabon.
Hazardous situation
The Natal nightjar is not considered to be endangered ( Least Concern ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Avibase
- ↑ a b c d e Handbook of the Birds of the World
- ^ A b c T. Stevenson, J. Fanshawe: Birds of East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi,, Princeton University Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-691-12665-4
- ^ IUCN Redlist
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Caprimulgus natalensis in the Internet Bird Collection
