Jerdon's Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis Scientific name definitions

25·5–27 cm; 1 male 55 g. Sexually dimorphic. Crown greyish-brown, central feathers boldly but sparsely spotted or streaked blackish-brown; rest of upperparts greyish-brown tinged rufous; nuchal collar rufous, often ill-defined; lesser coverts dark brown speckled rufous, rest of wing-coverts greyish-brown, speckled and spotted buff; scapulars blackish-brown, with pale tawny bar across middle of each feather; underparts brownish speckled buff, cinnamon and rufous-buff, becoming buff barred brown on belly and flanks. Male has white spot on four outermost primaries and broad white tips to two outermost tail feathers; female has buff wing spots and buff or buffish-white tips to two outermost tail feathers. Iris brown, bill dark brown, legs and feet dark brown. C. macrurus is greyer-brown with crown more heavily streaked blackish-brown; male has larger white wing spots, female larger buff spots. C. asiaticus is smaller with heavier streaking on crown, a tawny-buff nuchal collar and heavier tawny-buff spotting on wing-coverts. Immature of present species similar to adult but paler, with crown less heavily spotted. Race aequabilis is darker, especially on upperparts.

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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.

Mainly forest, woods and forested country: evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, dry forest, mixed bamboo forest and second-growth forest; also coffee estates and wooded suburban areas. In Sri Lanka, also semi-cultivated country and scrubland, especially with trees or tracts of woodland. Recorded from sea-level to 2000 m.

None documented. Sedentary.

Poorly documented. Feeds on insects, especially beetles, moths and termites. Forages in powerful, swooping flight, interspersed with frequent glides.

Poorly studied. Breeds Mar–Jul (mainly Mar–Apr) in India, Feb–May and Aug–Sept in Sri Lanka. No nest, eggs laid usually on sandy ground, often close to or beneath shrub or bush. Clutch 2 eggs, elliptical, cream or buffish, sparsely spotted and speckled brown, dark brown and grey; sexes share incubation; chick semi-precocial, but not described.

Not globally threatened. Reported to be reasonably common throughout its range, although details lacking. Occurs in several protected areas, including Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarhole), Mudumalai and Indira Gandhi National Parks (India); also, in Sri Lanka, found in Uda Walawe and Yala National Parks, being common in latter.