Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus Scientific name definitions

21–23 cm; one unsexed 63 g. Sexes similar, but female somewhat paler above. Upperparts and wing-coverts dark brown, densely mottled and flecked tawny and chestnut-brown, no nuchal collar; small white spot on either side of lower throat; rictal bristles short and weak; underparts dark brown, mottled and barred tawny and chestnut-brown; outer primaries curved, tail stiff and held in inverted V when bird at rest; both sexes lack white markings on wings and tail. Iris brown, bill dark brown (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) to blackish, legs and feet dark brown to black (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Similar to Caprimulgus batesi, which occupies some of same habitats, but latter is larger, rests on ground, and male has white in wings and tail (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Juvenile similar to adult, but scapulars and inner coverts pale greyish buff, spotted dark brown.

Sierra Leone (2 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2008). Selected notes on birds of Gola Forest and surroundings, Sierra Leone, including three new species for the country. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 15:215–227. Close , 3 Klop, E., Lindsell, J.A. and Siaka, A.M. (2010). The birds of Gola Forest and Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone. Malimbus. 32(1): 33–58. Close ) E discontinuously to C DRCongo, where restricted to rainforest zone.

Mainly lowland primary rainforest, both evergreen and semi-evergreen types (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ), often with open canopy and thick understorey, especially of Zingiberaceae and Marantaceae (including the herbaceous creeper Haumania), sometimes at the edge of small streams (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ). Appears to shun large clearings, but regularly found in selectively logged areas, presumably because the canopy is more open as a result (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ). In SW Central African Republic and Sierra Leone (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ), also recorded at edges of Raphia swamps in dense rainforest. Recorded to c. 1200 m (Mt Nlonako, W Cameroon) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ).

None recorded. Sedentary. Territories often at 750–1000 m intervals in large tracts of suitable habitat, occasionally just 500 m (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ), sometimes 1500 m and exceptionally just 100–200 m (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ).

Feeds on insects, mainly at dusk (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ). Forages by making flycatching sallies from perches, usually hawking close to forest canopy (sometimes 35 m above ground) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ) and returning to same perch, but also over the understorey at 3–5 m above ground and over tracks (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ).

Song of male is a repetitive, metallic series of “twoh” or “kliou” notes (reminiscent of an Epomops bat) (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ), given up to 60 times in series (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) (one bird gave song of ten notes uttered at rate of one per 2·2 seconds (6 Lindsell, J., Klop, E. and Siaka, A. (2008). First record of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus for Sierra Leone. Bull. African Bird Club. 15(1): 82-84. Close ), but rates of up to 21 notes in 24 seconds have been recorded) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ), usually from perches 10–20 m above ground (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ) or in flight; song mainly given at dawn and dusk (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), but birds are generally rather unresponsive to playback (6 Lindsell, J., Klop, E. and Siaka, A. (2008). First record of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus for Sierra Leone. Bull. African Bird Club. 15(1): 82-84. Close ). Song mainly given during local dry season (especially Dec–Jan in Ghana and Sierra Leone) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ). Female also speculated to sing (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ), though less sustained and notes shorter (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ). Song imitated by both Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and Shining Drongos (Dicrurus atripennis) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ).

Poorly known. Possibly breeds Jan–Mar in Liberia, Feb–Mar in Central African Republic, and Dec (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), May–Jun in Cameroon. Possibly territorial. Nest-site possibly above ground, e.g. on arched leaves of Raphia palms. Incubating or brooding adult gives threat display, in which mouth is opened wide and bird assumed almost toad-like appearance (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Possibly eligible for listing as threatened species. Probably uncommon to rare throughout range and generally confined to lowland rainforest; possibly under-recorded. Distribution better understood in recent years; recently recorded for first time in Nigeria (7 Burton, K.M. (2006). A sight record of the Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus in Nigeria. Malimbus. 28: 47-49. Close ) (Mar 2002, although record has been questioned) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ) and Sierra Leone (Jan–Feb 2006), the latter extending the species’ range farther W than previously known (6 Lindsell, J., Klop, E. and Siaka, A. (2008). First record of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus for Sierra Leone. Bull. African Bird Club. 15(1): 82-84. Close ). The Sierra Leone records are all from Gola Forest Reserve and Tiwai I (8 Klop, E., J. A. Lindsell, and A. M. Siaka (2010). The birds of Gola Forest and Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone. Malimbus 32(1):33–58. Close ), but the species appears to widespread and frequent in the first-named locality (2 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2008). Selected notes on birds of Gola Forest and surroundings, Sierra Leone, including three new species for the country. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 15:215–227. Close ). Generally rare in Ghana, though some habitat protected, e.g. a few records since 1970s from Ahanta Forest Reserve, with recent records from Bia National Park (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ), Bobiri Forest Reserve (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ) and Atewa Range Forest Reserve (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ), as well as being common in Kakum National Park (10 pairs/1 km²) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ); local and rare in Cameroon, though present in protected areas such as Korup National Park, and Lobéké (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (1998). Vocal and other peculiarities of Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus. Bull. African Bird Club. 5(1): 35-38. Close ), Boumba-Bek and Nki Reserves (all of which have been gazetted as national parks) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Dowsett, R.J. (2008). On the ecology of Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus in West and Central Africa. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 15(1): 77–81. Close ); possibly not uncommon locally in extreme N Congo, with seven singing males located in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in 1997; probably not common in Zaire. Loss of habitat through deforestation main potential threat.