Prigogine's nightjar

Prigogine's nightjar (Caprimulgus prigoginei) or the Itombwe nightjar, is a bird species of tropical central Africa. It is known from only one specimen taken in the Itombwe Mountains in Zaire in February 1952.

Prigogine's nightjar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Genus: Caprimulgus
Species:
C. prigoginei
Binomial name
Caprimulgus prigoginei
Louette, 1990

It appears to be a forest species, but nothing is known of its habits or breeding, although it is likely to nest on bare ground like its relatives. It is assumed to be a nocturnal insectivore like other nightjars.

Prigogine's nightjar is a small nightjar at 19 cm, short-tailed and large-headed. The adult female is dark brown with heavy speckling. In flight it is again mainly brown, without the white wing marking found in many of its relatives. There are pale brown wing spots, and whitish tail feather tips. The male is unknown.

The male's song is unknown, but unidentified nightjar calls heard in the breeding area include a rapid churring and a knocking sound.

The common name and binomial commemorates the ornithologist Alexandre Prigogine.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Caprimulgus prigoginei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nightjars by Cleere and Nurney, ISBN 1-873403-48-8
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