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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

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Large-tailed Nightjar at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.