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ID tip
Voice: This bird's call is a prolonged churring, which alternates between a fast and slow pace roughly every second. As such it differs from the similar long-tailed and slender-tailed nightjars which produce fast and slow churrs respectively.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Square-tailed Nightjar
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Square-tailed Nightjar
The map shades 16 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Square-tailed Nightjar
The square-tailed nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics. It has an extensive range south of the African equator. Despite not having a completely "square tail", its naming highlights a distinguishing field mark. The similarly plumaged slender-tailed nightjar, found in dry bush country of the tropics, differs namely by its protruding central tail feathers. It is alternatively known as the Gabon nightjar or Gaboon nightjar or the Mozambique nightjar.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisThe variegated plumage resembles the European nightjar.
Side by side: Jerdon's Nightjar vs Square-tailed Nightjar · Red-necked Nightjar vs Square-tailed Nightjar · Jungle Nightjar vs Square-tailed Nightjar · Freckled Nightjar vs Square-tailed Nightjar
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