Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus argus)

Other Names (World)
Spotted Nightjar, Spotted Eared-Nightjar, Laughing Owl, Night Hawk

Family
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)

Size
27 - 35 cm

First Described (Guide)
Hartert, 1892

Derivation
Eu-ro'-sto-pod'-us - Gk, eurostos, strong; Gk, pous, podos, foot: mys-ta-cä'-lis - L., moustache

Abundance (Guide)
MC

Quite common, especially in the more remote regions. Partially nomadic.

Habitat
Eucalypt, acacia, mulga and other open woodland. Often on stony or sanding ridges, or escarpments.

In SA this species is found in all but the wettest areas (ie Mt Lofty Ranges and Lower South-east) in woodlands of any description. [SA AFL 04/04]

Range (Guide)

Australia (B), Indonesia.

Cape York Peninsula and the interior of Australia, usually west of the Great Diving Range, extending to coastal western and north-western Australia.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
Probably secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Nocturnal flying insects, mainly beetles and moths, occasionally grasshoppers, crickets and mantids.

Voice
Loud, distinctive and diagnostic "caw-caw-caw-gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble". A really magical call... [SA AFL 04/04]

(82Kb) © ? (1)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (13)...)

Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus) [XC597650]
by Marc Anderson from Paroo Darling National Park, New South Wales, Australia (song)

Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus) [XC859871]
by Marc Anderson from Old Calder Highway, Hattah, Victoria, Australia (call)

Breeding Season (Guide)
September - January.

Nest
None. The egg is laid directly on the bare ground.

Eggs (Guide)
1; greenish cream, sparingly but boldly spotted and blotched purple-brown and blackish mauve; broad-ellipsoidal; about 32 - 37 x 23 - 26 mm. Incubation: 20 days; by both sexes.

Young
Semi-precocial, semi-nidifugous. Fledge in about 28 days. Brooded and fed by both parents.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
White-throated Eared-Nightjar (Eurostopodus mystacalis), which is larger and lacks the small white wing bars.

Compare Images

References
See References.

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

Files:

JPG files for Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus argus) - 10 files

MP3 files for Spotted Nightjar (Eurostopodus argus) - 1 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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