Salvadori's Nightjar Caprimulgus pulchellus Scientific name definitions

19–21·5 cm. Sexually dimorphic, though not greatly so. Upperparts and wing-coverts dark brown, spotted and barred tawny, cinnamon and buff; crown and nape paler, greyer brown, central feathers broadly streaked blackish; indistinct tawny-buff nuchal collar; tawny submoustachial stripe and large white patch on either side of lower throat; underparts tawny, buff and greyish white, barred brown, becoming buff barred brown on lower belly, flanks and undertail-coverts. Male has small white spot or bar on second to fifth outermost primaries and white tips to two outermost tail feathers; female has tawny wing spots and white or buff tips to two outermost tail feathers. Iris brown, bill blackish, tarsus brownish. Darker and more heavily spotted than C. concretus, which lacks white on wings in both sexes; male of that species has white tips to two outermost tail feathers. Other sympatric nightjars generally rather larger and paler (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Immature plumages unknown. Race bartelsi rather similar but perhaps averages smaller (e.g. wing of male 148–152 mm, versus 165 mm) (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); lacks nuchal collar, and has different scheme of coloration on upperparts ; female said to be basically grey, rather than brown as in male (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Typically montane and submontane forest, often on cliffs and cliff faces; also occasionally in small marshy areas. Recorded between 800 m and 2100 m on Java, but between 1350 and 2200 m on Sumatra.

None documented. Sedentary.

Poorly studied. Probably feeds on insects; forages over forest clearings or near cliffs. When hunting, flies slowly with flapping wingbeats and frequent glides. Also makes short flycatching sallies from perches, or takes prey from cliff faces.

Song of male is possibly a short series of “tok” five notes, with an overall duration c. 2·5 seconds, the first soft and very brief, the others louder and longer (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). No further information (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Poorly known. Breeds late Mar to May in Java; season in Sumatra undocumented. Nest-site recorded under tea bush; no nest, eggs laid on leaf litter on ground. Clutch 1–2 eggs, elliptical, glossy white and unmarked, size 29 mm × 21·5 mm (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). No further information (1 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Previously treated as Data Deficient, but now regarded as Near Threatened with an overall population estimate of 6000–15,000 mature individuals. Restricted-range species: present in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia EBA and Java and Bali Forests EBA. Although not currently listed as threatened, this poorly known species requires further study, especially in Sumatra. Until rather recently, only confirmed records from Sumatra are apparently the type specimen (a male), taken from Mt Singgalang in Jul 1878, and another male taken from Gunung Dempo in Jul 1936, with sight records in Jun 1989 and Jul 1993; now suspected to be present over most of South Barisan Mts, and is regularly seen within Kerinci-Seblat National Park (2 Myers, S. (2005). Birding hotspot: Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. BirdingASIA 4: 52–57. Close ). On Java, rare and little known; found to be uncommon on Gunung Salak and Gunung Slamet in 2013 (3 Mittermeier, J. C., C. H. Oliveros, T. Haryoko, M. Irham, and R. G. Moyle, (2014). An avifaunal survey of three Javan volcanoes—Gn Salak, Gn Slamet and the Ijen highlands. BirdingASIA 22:91–100. Close ); a small population is known to exist in Gunung-Gede/Pangrango National Park. Forest at lower elevations on both islands within this species’ range are being encroached by agriculture and further threatened by logging; for example, no original forest remains below 2000 m on Gunung Slamet (3 Mittermeier, J. C., C. H. Oliveros, T. Haryoko, M. Irham, and R. G. Moyle, (2014). An avifaunal survey of three Javan volcanoes—Gn Salak, Gn Slamet and the Ijen highlands. BirdingASIA 22:91–100. Close ).