Wallace's Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles wallacii Scientific name definitions

20–23 cm; 46·5–48·5 g (wallacii), 50·5–52 g (manni). Distinctive small owlet-nightjar. Nominate form is variable in plumage, but apparently without showing any ­well-defined polymorphism and with sexes generally similar. Dark brown above, with pale speckles and vermiculations; buffy-white to greyish-white below with dark spots or bars, breast mottled dark brown. Single apparent juvenile has crown all blackish-brown, marked only with fine irregular barring and speckling of buff, and heavily barred underparts. Races differ in size and sometimes in coloration; some gigas and manni have sugges­tion of white collar on hindneck.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

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.

Little information. Double whistle , first note rising, second falling and often with trill, may function as song; second note sometimes omitted.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Apparently a rare, or perhaps elusive, species throughout its range, with small number of specimens from scattered localities. In addition to specimens, some recent observations, photographs and sound-recordings. Unlikely to be immediately threatened since extensive forests remain within the ranges of all three of its subspecies.