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ShrublandScrapeSmall · 42 g
What the Indian Nightjar sounds like
ID tip
This nightjar is small and short-tailed with white corners to the tail, a golden nape and collar, dark cheeks and white patches on the sides of the throat. The crown is grey and the breast is finely barred in brown. The males have more white on the tail while the female is more heavily streaked on the crown. It is differentiated from Sykes's nightjar by the dark undertail and from Jerdon's nightjar by the shorter tail and white patches on the sides of the throat.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Indian Nightjar
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Indian Nightjar
The map shades 8 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Indian Nightjar
The Indian nightjar is a small nightjar which is a resident breeder in open lands across South Asia and Southeast Asia. Like most nightjars it is crepuscular and is best detected from its characteristic calls at dawn and dusk that have been likened to a stone skipping on a frozen lake - a series of clicks that become shorter and more rapid. They are sometimes spotted on roads when their eyes gleam red in the spotlight of a vehicle. There is considerable plumage variation across its range and can be hard to differentiate from other nightjars in the region especially in the field.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Large-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus macrurusThe large-tailed nightjar measures approximately 31.5 to 33 cm in length.
Jerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennisLike other nightjars, it has a wide gape, long wings, soft downy plumage and nocturnal habits.
Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisThe variegated plumage resembles the European nightjar.
Side by side: Indian Nightjar vs Savanna Nightjar · Fiery-necked Nightjar vs Indian Nightjar · Indian Nightjar vs Large-tailed Nightjar · Indian Nightjar vs Jerdon's Nightjar · Indian Nightjar vs Red-necked Nightjar
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