Brown Nightjar
Veles binotatus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="veles-binotatus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~63 g) of lowland and secondary forest in equatorial West Africa from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Uniformly dark brown above with a small white throat spot; plain compared with many nightjars. Nocturnal insectivore of forest understorey. Least Concern in its equatorial forest range.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 29.8 cm | 11.7 in |
| Weight | 63.0 g | 2.22 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Uniform dark rufous-brown with fine dark vermiculations; small pale buff wing spots; no white throat patch; no white tail markings; monotypic; very cryptic plumage matched to dark rainforest bark; West Africa.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident of lowland and submontane forest edge and clearings in West and Central Africa from Sierra Leone and Liberia east to DR Congo and Uganda.
Diet & Feeding
Nocturnal aerial insectivore; catches moths and flying insects over West and Central African forest.
Conservation Status
Sound
Song
Repeated 'pew-pew' or 'puu-puu'; mellow, hollow whistle from African rainforest; calls from dense canopy at night; soft and ventriloquial; alarm a sharp 'chik'
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) |
| Genus | Veles |
| Species | Veles binotatus |
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Brown Nightjar eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Caprimulgidae family