368:
streaks. Wing-coverts are speckled grey to blackish, often with pronounced buff to rufous spots. Four outermost primary wing-covert feathers feature white patches forming a distinctive speculum. The mid-throat has a pair of large oval white patches, while the upper throat is blackish with buff spots. The tawny lower throat and breast feature blackish-brown bars often flecked with grey, while underparts are tawny to ochre. Although the species is generally considered monotypic, adult females may tend to be a slightly lighter and paler tawny colour around the back, under-parts and collar, while also having slightly less prominent white markings on the outer wing-coverts. Juveniles have finely patterned upper parts and are redder overall than adults, with a single narrow black central stripe along the crown. The white outer wing-covert patterns are smaller and less pronounced, usually surrounded with ochre margins. The juvenile's breast is greyer and more finely mottled with dusky bars extending onto the belly. Downy young hatch with a uniform cover of short, reddish-brown down, shortly after which they moult into their juvenile plumage.
416:
yellow-green egg with purple-brown blotches is laid on the ground among leaf litter, twigs, grass and stones, usually making detection of sitting adults difficult. Both parents are understood to contribute to incubating the egg over a period of around 30 days. Chicks are able to walk within a short period after hatching and are able to flutter over short distances around 20 days, becoming more or less independent after 30 days. In favourable conditions, brooding females may lay a second egg after their chick is around 22 days old. A female has been recorded laying as many as five eggs, successfully rearing two broods during a single season.
359:), an adult spotted nightjar in flight displays large white spots on four outer primary feathers, lacking the white tail markings of the more tropical large-tailed nightjar. Adult body length is 25–28 cm. Adult males weigh 81-132 g while adult females are slightly smaller (74–123 g). Adult wingspan is 20.5-23.9 cm; tail length is 13.4-16.8 cm and bill length is 1.5-2.5 cm. The spotted nightjar's bill is flesh-brown to blackish, occasionally paler nearer to the gape of the lower mandible. The iris is brown to very dark brown; legs and feet are brown with darker claws.
31:
75:
381:. The species typically roosts in partly shaded sites, often camouflaged amongst leaf litter or on stony ground. They manage to endure high temperatures during the hottest periods by gular-fluttering (evaporative cooling) and by keeping their backs to the sun, while also maintaining relatively low metabolic rates. While the species generally occurs singularly, flocks of up to 15 birds have been observed during migration.
50:
377:
flight around campfires, artificial lighting and flowering bushes. When flushed, individuals may initially fly only a short distance before landing, but when facing more persistent threats may fly further away beyond sight. If threatened while brooding, the spotted nightjar may begin hissing, opening its bill widely and spreading its wings and tail in a defensive posture or
334:
tussock grasslands. The species has also been recorded in relatively harsh environments including gibber plains, semi deserts and deserts. The species generally avoids dense grasslands and tall, closed forest. Winter habitats on
Indonesian islands include savannahs, grasslands and the edges of rainforests.
312:
The spotted nightjar occurs across most of mainland
Australia, although it is generally absent east and south of the Great Dividing Range along the eastern seaboard from central Queensland to southeast South Australia and does not occur in Tasmania. Individuals may be locally nomadic or sedentary in
415:
Breeding usually takes place between
September and December, with northern populations breeding earlier than those in the south. In central Australia, seasons are less clearly defined, such that breeding tends to occur after significant rain events. Adults do not build a nest, instead a single pale
376:
A crepuscular/nocturnal species most active after dark and before dawn, spotted nightjars are usually observed roosting, walking or running along the ground and are rarely seen perching in trees. They are often found on roads at night and have been observed hawking insects with highly maneuverable
367:
An adult spotted nightjar's head is speckled grey, with black central crown feathers and rufous to buff edges, while the sides of the head are blackish with tawny spots. The hind-neck is a rufous or buff collar often flecked with black marks. Upper parts are mid-grey with tawny or rufous and black
342:
One of the larger and more colourful of the nightjars, the intricate, heavily spotted and flecked patterns of the spotted nightjar enable it to blend perfectly where red, grew or brown soils are strewn with rocks, leaves, branches and twigs. Similar in appearance to two other
Australian nightjar
333:
The spotted nightjar occurs in a variety of habitats from deserts to mangroves, generally preferring warmer, drier country than areas with more humid, cooler climates. Habitat types include savannah woodland; low open sclerophyll forest; mallee; mulga and acacia scrubland as well as spinifex and
389:
A typical breeding call of the spotted nightjar involves about 9-12 notes, ascending in frequency and pitch, then proceeded by a series of gobbling sounds. When on ground, approaching their nesting area, birds may emit frog-like croaking and low cooing noises. Its melodic territorial song has a
402:
insects and feed on the wing, often hunting at relatively low levels within 20–30 m of the ground. The species has been observed drinking water on the wing by skimming over water holes. They may also obtain preformed water from their insect prey. Spotted nightjars are thought to be almost
313:
northern regions, while southern birds are partially sedentary or migratory, wintering in northern
Australia from May to September. The species may also winter on Indonesian islands in the
424:
Previously considered moderately abundant across inland and northern areas, the spotted nightjar may be becoming more rare, particularly in southern parts of its range as a result of
249:
well against the ground. Adult spotted nightjar have large white spots on four outer primary feathers, lacking the white tail markings of the more tropical large-tailed nightjar.
260:, and primarily roost and on the ground, rarely perching in trees. They tend to both eat and drink while in flight, skimming along the surface of water holes in order to do so.
870:
909:
245:
Spotted nightjars are larger and more colorful than other species of nightjar, and are known for their intricately flecked plumage patterns which allow them to
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292:. The nightjars are split into two subfamilies, Chordelinae (American nighthawks) and Caprimulginae (typical nightjars). Within the Caprimulginae, the genus
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duration of 4–6 seconds, beginning 2-5 upwardly pitched notes, each becoming more rapid, followed by a quick succession of 8-15 high pitched double notes.
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and foxes is also likely to be significantly impacting abundance in some areas. The species is now listed among
Australia's 26 declining woodland birds.
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883:
544:<Han, K.-L., M.B. Robbins, and M.J. Braun. (2010)A multi-gene estimate of phylogeny in the nightjars and nighthawks (Caprimulgidae)
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888:
235:
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986:
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756:
639:
Dawson, W. R., & Fisher, C. D. (1969). Responses to temperature by the spotted nightjar (Eurostopodus guttatus).
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Watson, D. M. (2011). A productivity-based explanation for woodland bird declines: poorer soils yield less food.
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associated with land clearing, reduced productivity and overgrazing of remnant native vegetation. Predation by
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407:. Prey species include bugs; beetles; moths; winged ants; grasshoppers; locusts; lacewings and mantids.
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are open forests and woodlands, scrub, spinifex and tussock grassland, savannah woodland and mangroves.
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681:.CS1RO Division of Wildlife and Ecology & Parchment Press: Melbourne.
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598:. Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. Archerfield, Queensland.
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nightjars) consists of seven extant species, including
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513:Nightjars: A Guide to Nightjars and related birds
474:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22689656A93241881.en
677:Barker, R. D., & Vestjens, W. J. M. (1989).
659:Nightjars and their allies: the Caprimulgiformes
679:The Food of Australian Birds. 1. Non-passerines
317:, possibly for some individuals as a result of
8:
533:Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds
268:The spotted nightjar was first described by
566:Owls, frogmouths and nightjars of Australia
531:Christidis, L., & Boles, W. E. (2008).
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321:, with vagrants recorded as far north as
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623:Schodde, R., & Mason, I. J. (1980).
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546:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
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977:IUCN Red List least concern species
661:(Vol. 7). Oxford University Press.
460:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
234:and has also been found in several
14:
762:Eurostopodus_(Eurostopodus)_argus
73:
596:Field guide to Australian birds
449:BirdLife International (2016).
230:. It inhabits much of mainland
1:
625:Nocturnal birds of Australia
568:. Bloomings Books Pty Ltd.
1008:
188:
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70:Scientific classification
68:
46:
37:
28:
23:
467:: e.T22689656A93241881.
276:includes four families;
992:Birds described in 1892
657:Holyoak, D. T. (2001).
548:,volume 55, pp 443;453.
420:Status and Conservation
357:Eurostopodus mystacalis
353:white-throated nightjar
252:Spotted nightjars are
214:spotted eared-nightjar
627:. Lansdowne Editions.
594:Morcombe, M. (2003).
564:Hollands, D. (2008).
345:large-tailed nightjar
349:Caprimulgus macrurus
535:. Csiro Publishing.
511:Cleere, N. (2010).
379:distraction display
272:in 1892. The order
40:Conservation status
987:Birds of Australia
954:Eurostopodus-argus
748:Eurostopodus argus
718:Eurostopodus argus
453:Eurostopodus argus
398:Spotted nightjars
302:Eurostopodus argus
236:Indonesian islands
222:) is a species of
219:Eurostopodus argus
192:Eurostopodus argus
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936:Open Tree of Life
710:Taxon identifiers
515:. A&C Black.
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24:Spotted nightjar
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274:Caprimulgiformes
210:spotted nightjar
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140:Caprimulgiformes
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343:species, the
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270:Ernst Hartert
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258:insectivorous
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228:Caprimulgidae
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183:Binomial name
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174:E. argus
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150:Caprimulgidae
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55:Least Concern
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982:Eurostopodus
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478:. Retrieved
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426:habitat loss
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403:exclusively
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375:
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319:overshooting
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308:Distribution
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294:Eurostopodus
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161:Eurostopodus
160:
123:
18:
858:iNaturalist
742:Wikispecies
604:174021564-8
480:12 November
338:Description
288:, and the
971:Categories
949:Xeno-canto
667:0198549873
641:The Condor
436:References
430:feral cats
323:Irian Jaya
282:frogmouths
247:camouflage
372:Behaviour
315:Banda Sea
290:nightjars
254:nocturnal
232:Australia
168:Species:
130:Strisores
93:Kingdom:
87:Eukaryota
902:22689656
876:10214756
788:22689656
783:BirdLife
727:Wikidata
411:Breeding
278:oilbirds
264:Taxonomy
240:habitats
224:nightjar
146:Family:
107:Chordata
103:Phylum:
97:Animalia
83:Domain:
60:IUCN 3.1
850:2497091
837:sponig1
811:sponig1
770:Avibase
733:Q837198
363:Plumage
329:Habitat
199:Hartert
156:Genus:
136:Order:
113:Class:
58: (
941:847125
915:723271
889:555531
665:
602:
572:
519:
351:) and
286:potoos
201:, 1892
928:72301
871:IRMNG
863:19554
832:eBird
824:3D2H3
808:BOW:
801:95512
385:Voice
298:eared
296:(the
124:Clade
910:NCBI
897:IUCN
884:ITIS
845:GBIF
796:BOLD
663:ISBN
600:ISBN
570:ISBN
517:ISBN
482:2021
465:2016
400:hawk
394:Diet
256:and
208:The
117:Aves
819:CoL
757:AFD
695:Emu
469:doi
212:or
973::
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912::
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886::
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847::
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798::
785::
772::
759::
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729::
686:^
648:^
632:^
610:^
581:^
553:^
490:^
463:.
457:.
325:.
304:.
284:,
280:,
126::
576:.
484:.
471::
455:"
451:"
355:(
347:(
216:(
62:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
