Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus Scientific name definitions

28–43 cm; male 39–58 g, female 35–61 g. Sexually dimorphic. Variable in colour ranging from pale brown, brown and greyish-brown to sandy-buff . Upperparts and wing-coverts generally greyish-brown, finely streaked brown; male has white line across forewing, female having buff or buffish-white line; broad tawny or buff nuchal collar; white throat patch; underparts pale brown, speckled and barred pale buff, becoming buff thinly barred brown on belly and flanks. Male has broad white band across five outermost primaries and white trailing edge to inner wing, tail graduated, central pair longest, outer tail feathers edged and tipped white; female has buffish-white wing band and buff or buffish-white trailing edge to inner wing, and is shorter-tailed with outer feathers edged and tipped buff. Iris brown, bill brown, legs and feet brownish. Has notably longer tail than C. clarus and C. fossii, and is generally paler. Immature similar to adult female but paler. Race nigricans distinctive, generally blackish, male often longer-tailed; race <em>sclateri</em> more rufous, but variable in colour.

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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.

Highly variable throughout range, in all habitats from arid semi-deserts to woods, forest and forest clearings; also commonly in all types of grassland and in cultivated areas. Also recently burnt areas and open patches in second growth and villages in Liberia. Outside breeding season, also stony hillsides and papyrus swamps.

Poorly known. Nominate race migratory and partially sedentary, some populations moving S after breeding season. Race sclateri possibly sedentary and partially migratory. Race nigricans probably sedentary. Outside breeding season, range also includes S Ivory Coast, SW Nigeria, S Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, SE Congo (lower Congo river valley), NE Angola (one record Luaco), SE Sudan, SW Ethiopia, W Kenya (sporadic in Turkana and Pokot region) and E Uganda.

Diet includes beetles, moths, mantises, bugs, ants, winged termites and grasshoppers. Foraging methods poorly studied. Forages in flight, hunting over open country, cultivated areas and among trees and bushes. Drinks in flight.

Song of male is a long, evenly pitched churr, often ending with series of “chong” or “chiow” notes; sings from perches and ground. Calls include short series of “chong” or “chak” notes; makes guttural hissing sounds during threat/defence displays.

Surprisingly poorly documented. Breeds Mar–Sept in N Senegal and possibly also ­Gambia, Mar–Aug in Mali and N Nigeria, Jan to perhaps Oct in S Nigeria, Feb–May in Sierra Leone, Jan–Dec in Ghana, possibly Feb–Aug in Togo, Mar–Jul in Uganda, Mar–Jun in N Zaire and Aug–Nov in SE Zaire. Probably monogamous. No nest, eggs laid on leaf litter or bare earth, often on or alongside path or track, in copse or cultivated field. Clutch usually 2 eggs, elliptical, creamy-white, buff or pinkish, heavily blotched grey or greyish-purple and stained umber; incubation and fledging periods not documented; downy chick not described.

Not globally threatened. Common and locally abundant throughout much of range, perhaps less so in forest clearings in S. Widespread and often rather common in Senegal; locally common in Gambia; common in Ghana and Togo; fairly common breeding visitor to Niger; Locally abundant on S shores of L Chad; widespread and common in Nigeria, numbers in S swollen by N migrants Nov–Feb; common and widely distributed throughout much of Sudan. Common in N Congo; widely distributed in Zaire; rare to scarce locally in Kenya. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Djoudj and Niokola Koba National Parks (Senegal), W National Park (Niger) and Waza National Park (Cameroon).