Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis)

Other Names (World)
Savanna Nightjar, Allied Nightjar, Franklin's Nightjar (monticolus group)

Family
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)

Size
23 - 25 cm

First Described (Guide)
Horsfield, 1821

Derivation
Cap-ri-mulg'-us - L., caper, goat; L., mulgere, to suck: af-fin'-is - L., allied

Abundance (Guide)
R

Rare. Vagrant to Christmas Island.

Habitat
Dry open woodland and scattered shrubland on stony ridges, foothills and in ravines. Also grassland with scattered rocky outcrops or scrub. From sea-level - 2,000 m.

Range (Guide)

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (mainland), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines (B), Singapore (B), Taiwan (China), Thailand, Timor-Leste (B) (NB), Vietnam.

Vagrant to Christmas Island.

Rarity Status
View Rarity Status Information

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Flying nocturnal insects.

Voice
A low, buzzy squeal 'schzeeip' or 'chaweez', or a loud grating 'chwip' or 'chweeep', repeated often, at short intervals, for thirty minutes or more. A low chuckle or soft screech when flushed.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (84)...)

Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) [XC436367]
by Peter Boesman from Near Gir Forest NP, Gujarat, India (song)

Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) [XC40064]
by David Marques from Harmony Hotel, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (song)

Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia.

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

Subspecies
Birds from southern Sulawesi may represent an undescribed taxon. Populations from north-eastern India to Thailand formerly separated as subspecies burmanicus.

Subspecies recorded at Christmas Island not known.

The following 10 subspecies are recognised:

monticolus Franklin, 1831 - North-eastern Pakistan and India east to Myanmar and south to Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam.
amoyensis Baker, ECS, 1931 - South-eastern China and northern Vietnam.
stictomus Swinhoe, 1863 - Taiwan.
griseatus Walden, 1875 - Luzon, Catanduanes, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Negros and Cebu (northern Philippines).
mindanensis Mearns, 1905 - Mindanao (south-eastern Philippines).
affinis Horsfield, 1821 - Sumatra, Borneo and Java, east to Lombok and possibly southern Sulawesi.
propinquus Riley, 1918 - Sulawesi (possibly except Macassar region on southern peninsula).
undulatus Mayr, 1944 - Sumbawa, Komodo and Flores (western Lesser Sundas).
kasuidori Hachisuka, 1932 - Sawu and Sumba (central Lesser Sundas).
timorensis Mayr, 1944 - Alor, Timor, Roti and Kisar (eastern Lesser Sundas).

Similar Species
Not readily confused with other nightjars due to its relatively small size.

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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 Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) - 10 files

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