Other Names (World)
Australian Owlet-Nightjar, Crested Owlet-nightjar, Savanna Owlet-nightjar, Owlet-nightjar, Greater Owlet-Nightjar, Little Nightjar, Banded Goatsucker, Little Owl, Moth Owl
Habitat
Coastal and mountain rainforests, eucalypt forests, interior woodlands, tree-lined watercourses, mulga, spinifex with scattered clumps of trees. An arboreal species, it roosts and nests in hollows. [SA AFL 04/04}
Voice
There is a rather wide range of calls, but the call most often heard in SA is a strong 'cher-cher-cher', usually given while perched, and not only at night. [SA AFL 04/04] Also a sharp, high-pitched 'chirk-chirk-chirk' or 'yuk'. Young beg with a soft, low trilling and adults respond with the same call.
Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) [XC528780]
by Marc Anderson from Koombooloomba, Tablelands Regional, Queensland, Australia (call)
Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) [XC460822]
by Marc Anderson from Coorongooba campground, Wollemi NP, New South Wales, Australia (call)
Nest
In a hole in a tree or stump, lines with leaves.
Eggs (Guide)
Incubation time beginning with laying of the first egg.
Clutch Size: 2 - 5, usually 3
Color: pure white
Dimensions: 27 - 32 x 21 - 23 mm (ellipsoidal)
Incubation: 25 - 27 days by both sexes
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. They continue to associate with their parents for several more months after fledging.
Fledge: 20 - 30 days
Subspecies
Apparently a close relative of Barred Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles bennettii), and formerly considered conspecific. Subspecies affinis of Barred Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles bennettii) sometimes erroneously included within present species. Variation complex, but much of it clinal, with largest birds in north of range. Population in southern New Guinea formerly treated as separate subspecies, major, but appears to represent no more than end-point of size cline of nominate form. Several other subspecies listed in old literature are based on individual or polymorphic variation in coloration.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
cristatus (White, 1790) - South-eastern New Guinea between R Oriomo and Tarara (Port Moresby region). Mainland Australia and offshore islands, excluding Tasmania.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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