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Large-tailed NightjarAlternate name(s): "White-tailed Nightjar", "Axe Bird", "Carpenter Bird", "Hammer Bird" Size: 26-29 cm Weight: 52-78 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "schlegelii"
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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]
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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
.