Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

The square-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) 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 Mozambique nightjar. 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.
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Square-tailed Nightjars on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Trevor Kleyn
Sunday 05 Mar 2023 - 4:35pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦓
Luke Kroon
Friday 27 Jan 2023 - 5:14pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦜
Harriet Baber
Thursday 01 Dec 2022 - 10:50pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦆
Adam van Welie
Saturday 26 Nov 2022 - 5:20pm
South Africa
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