Whistling nightjar
| Whistling nightjar | ||||||||||
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Whistling nightjar ( Caprimulgus pectoralis ), subspecies C. p. fervidus in Limpopo, South Africa |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Caprimulgus pectoralis | ||||||||||
| Cuvier , 1816 |
The Whistling Nightjar ( Caprimulgus pectoralis ) is a species of bird from the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae).
It is common and widespread in South Africa , Malawi , Zimbabwe , Mozambique , Swaziland , Angola , Namibia , Botswana , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Kenya , Tanzania , Gambia , Senegal , Sierra Leone , Nigeria , Cameroon to South Sudan and Republic of the Congo .
Their distribution area includes tree-lined savannas , mostly with miombo or mopane up to 1300 m.
description
The Whistling Nightjar is 23-25 cm, the male weighs between 34 and 70, the female between 38 and 66 g. Features are large reddish brown ear covers and reddish brown neck band. There are white spots on the side of the throat. The parting is gray. In flight, leg males have white spots on the four hand wings and large white corners on the outer control feathers .
voice
The call of the male is described as a melodic whistling “peeo-u-oh, piriririri” or “woi-woi t'woy-wirrrr”.
Geographic variation
The following subspecies are recognized:
- C. p. nigriscapularis Reichenow , 1893 - Black-shouldered Nightjar - in places from Gambia, Senegal and West Sierra Leone east over Nigeria and Cameroon to South Sudan and west Kenya, south to the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- C. p. shelleyi Bocage , 1878 - Angola and south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to south-east Kenya, Tanzania and northern Malawi.
- C. p. fervidus Sharpe , 1875 - south of Angola, north of Namibia, north and east of Botswana and Zimbabwe to north-east South Africa.
- C. p. crepusculans Clancey , 1994 - South Malawi, Southeast Zimbabwe and Mozambique to East South Africa and Swaziland.
- C. p. pectoralis Cuvier , 1816 - Fiery-necked Nightjar, nominate form - Southwest and South of South Africa.
The subspecies nigriscapularis , Schwarzschulter-Nachtschwalbe , English Black-shouldered nightjar is partly regarded as a separate species.
Way of life
The diet consists of fishing rodents , spiders , beetles , grasshoppers and moths .
The breeding season is between August and September in Angola and between September and November in Zambia and Malawi.
Hazardous situation
The Whistling 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
- ↑ Avibase
- ^ IUCN Redlist
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Caprimulgus pectoralis in the Internet Bird Collection
