Gorgeous photograph! Unfortunately this is not a European Nightjar, but a Fiery-necked Nightjar. Some of the diagnostic features of Fiery-necked that are visible in this picture include the unique white-based rictal bristles, boldly black-spotted scapulars, rufous tones to the ear-coverts and the finger-width rufous nape collar. Additionally, the white spots on the primaries would have been further along (distally) in European; as visible in the picture, the white spots sit directly on the emarginated edges of the primaries in FN, giving the whit spots a pinched look (more rounded on Euro). Finally, European would have shown a considerably darker “shoulder” patch on the lesser coverts, bordered above with a large creamy patch, formed by the edges of the lower scapulars. In the other image, with the wings open, the white apical patch on the outermost tail feather is very large – indicative of a male FN. What your pictures do demonstrate, is that European is not the only nightjar species to roost lengthwise on a tree branch! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Faansie – I will edit the titles to reflect your id. Cheers Paul.
Hi Paul, Sally and BirdLife Port Natal
Gorgeous photograph! Unfortunately this is not a European Nightjar, but a Fiery-necked Nightjar. Some of the diagnostic features of Fiery-necked that are visible in this picture include the unique white-based rictal bristles, boldly black-spotted scapulars, rufous tones to the ear-coverts and the finger-width rufous nape collar. Additionally, the white spots on the primaries would have been further along (distally) in European; as visible in the picture, the white spots sit directly on the emarginated edges of the primaries in FN, giving the whit spots a pinched look (more rounded on Euro). Finally, European would have shown a considerably darker “shoulder” patch on the lesser coverts, bordered above with a large creamy patch, formed by the edges of the lower scapulars. In the other image, with the wings open, the white apical patch on the outermost tail feather is very large – indicative of a male FN. What your pictures do demonstrate, is that European is not the only nightjar species to roost lengthwise on a tree branch! Thanks for sharing!
How exciting!! I wouldn’t know how to distinguish one night jar with another!!