About Caprimulgus macrurus Horsfield, 1821
The large-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus Horsfield, 1821) measures approximately 31.5 to 33 cm in length. Its cryptic plumage and colouration provide effective camouflage within its natural habitat. Males have distinctive markings: a pale crown with a dark median stripe, and a prominent row of black scapular feathers bordered by broad buff or whitish-buff fringes. Males also have a white throat patch and a long, broad brown tail marked with uneven dark bars. Large white patches on its primaries and outer tail feathers are visible when the bird is in flight. In contrast, females have paler, greyer plumage than males. They have smaller buff-coloured wing patches and less vibrant tail patches, giving them a drabber overall appearance.
Large-tailed nightjars inhabit a diverse range of habitats in subtropical and tropical zones. This species is resident in Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Its distribution covers a wide geographic area, stretching from northern India through eastern China and Indonesia to northern Australia. The species commonly lives in secondary forests, forest edges, plantations, and wooded parks. It has also been observed in agricultural landscapes, where its presence may be of significant economic interest to farmers, as large-tailed nightjars are believed to contribute to biological control of insect pests.
Little is known about the large-tailed nightjar's nesting and roosting behaviour. The breeding season most likely runs from mid-March to late September. Females do not build nests; instead, they lay 1 to 2 eggs in a shallow depression of leaf litter on the ground. The eggs range in colour from pinkish-buff to pale yellow. Chicks have mealy brown feathers that provide good camouflage at their nest site. Nightjar chicks hatch covered in downy feathers, and may be moved away from the nest site 1 to 2 days after hatching. Chicks move every night, and siblings will sometimes separate, likely to avoid being detected by predators.
