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13

Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) Alternate name(s): "White-tailed Nightjar", "Axe Bird", "Carpenter Bird", "Hammer Bird" Size: 26-29 cm Weight: 52-78 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Large-tailed Nightjars are relatively small nocturnal predators. Their plumage is highly cryptic. They are primarily dark rufous-brown, with silver and grey streaking and barring. They have a white spot on the throat. While perched on the ground, the tail protrudes conspicuously beyond the end of the wing tips. Of all Australian nightjars, Large-tailed Nightjars are the ones with the most conspicuous facial mask. The brown lores and ear patches are framed by a lighter, rufous lower edge and the more greyish cap. They are the only Australian nightjars with a visible white spot on the folded wings and also the only ones with white spots on the outer sides of the tip of the undertail. The irises are dark-brown and have the typical, unusual form of other nightjars. The small, downward-curved bill is dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Large-tailed Nightjar at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Large-tailed Nightjar is available HERE . Large-tailed Nightjars occur in an area spanning from the southern fringes of the Himalayas in northern India, parts of Bangladesh and through South-east Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, parts of the Philippines, New Guinea) and on to northern and eastern Australia. In Australia Large-tailed Nightjars are found only along the northern, tropical coastal fringe and along the East coast of QLD, as far South as about Brisbane, QLD. Large-tailed Nightjars have a preference for subtropical to tropical forest, typically in moist lowland areas, including mangrove, but also at higher elevations.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "schlegelii" B. Hensen reports spotting Large-tailed Nightjars, race "schlegelii", at Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in August 2017. P. Brown reports finding a Large-tailed Nightjar, race "schlegelii", repeatedly between Lee Point and Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, in September 2018 and another along Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, in October 2018. Another was found on several occasions in Casuarina Costal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in April 2020 and again in July 2020. Another was found along Gunn Point Road, near Darwin, in October 2020. M. Eaton found a Large-tailed Nightjar, race "schlegelii", in Casuarina Costal Reserve, Darwin, NT, in July 2020. In October 2021, P. Brown found a pair of Large-tailed Nightjar, race "schlegelii", nesting in Casuarina Costal Reserve, Darwin, NT. Subsequently, in November 2021, the chicks and later juveniles were found with their parents. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting Large-tailed Nightjars, race "schlegelii", at Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, in November 2020.

Photos

Race "schlegelii"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Large-tailed Nightjar in leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

Frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar perched on a low branch; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 4 April 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, April 2020]

Frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, November 2020]

Frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, November 2020]

Frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar looking sideways; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 4 April 2020
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, April 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Large-tailed Nightjar in leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gunn Point Road, near Darwin, NT, October 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Large-tailed Nightjar looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, November 2020]

Lateral view of an adult Large-tailed Nightjar in Casuarina leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Between Lee Point and Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

View of the underparts of a (dead) Large-tailed Nightjar; the white wing spots are similar to those found in other species of Australian nightjars, but the white outer tips on the undertail are unique to this species (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Dorsal view of a juvenile Large-tailed Nightjar in leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, November 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 16 - 18 days

Fledging age: 21 - 22 days

Nest building: N/A

Incubation: Female (day), male (night)

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: No nest

Material: Leaf litter

Height above ground: N/A

Single 2-3 days old Large-tailed Nightjar chick in leaf litter; its sibling was also seen at the time (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2021]

Find the bird! Frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar, presumably the male, incubating its eggs in leaf litter
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2021]

Lateral view of a Large-tailed Nightjar, presumably the male, incubating its eggs in leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2021]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 30-32 x 22-24 mm

Colour: Off-white to light-brown, faintly speckled

Shape: Oval

Note that the first egg laid is usually larger than the second. The eggs of Large-tailed Nightjars are usually creamy to light-brown, with faint light-brown speckles. The eggs shown here are comparatively light in colour.

Two off-white Large-tailed Nightjar eggs in leaf litter (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2021]

Behaviour

Note that, as opposed to other species of nightjars known to us, Large-tailed Nightjars have been found perched on low branches in trees, especially while calling, rather than staying either on the ground or in the air.

Near-frontal view of a Large-tailed Nightjar; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 4 April 2020
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, April 2020]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

ltnight_pb_20200404.m4a	schlegelii (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© PB
ltnight_pb_20190219.m4a	schlegelii (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© PB
ltnight_pb_20210722.m4a	schlegelii (Darwin, NT)	Territorial? calls	© PB
ltnight_pb_20210411.m4a	schlegelii (Darwin, NT)	Various	© PB

More Large-tailed Nightjar sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Sun, 3 September 2023, 3:47 +00:00