Square-tailed Nightjar

The Square-tailed Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Square-tailed Nightjar is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. References - * BirdLife International 2004. Caprimulgus fossii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 July 2007. More

The Square-tailed nightjar is occurs across Africa south of the Sahel semi-desert, preferring open areas with sandy soil, such as Acacia savanna, miombo woodland, etc. It is insectivorous, feeding mainly on beetles, grasshoppers and moths. It mainly hunts just after sunset, searching for prey from a low perch, then hawking any insect that passes by. It nests in shallow, natural depressions in sandy soil or fine gravel, usually in bare, open areas with little vegetation, such as cultivated fields. More

also a picture of the Square-tailed Nightjar on page . The Square-tailed Nightjar belongs to the family of birds classified as . According to the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology the Square-tailed Nightjar is also known by these other names: Gabon Nightjar, Gaboon Nightjar, East Coast Mozambique Nightjar, Angola Nightjar. More

Square-tailed Nightjar, Zambia, Nr Livingstone 17/01/06 © Mark Sutton female Square-tailed Nightjar - Square-tailed Nightjar, Malawi, Senga Bay 27.01. More

Picture of Caprimulgus fossii above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike license.
Original source: David Bygott
Author: David Bygott
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Caprimulgiformes
Family : Caprimulgidae
Genus : Caprimulgus
Species : fossii
Authority : Hartlaub, 1857