Eurostopodidae
Encyclopedia
The Eared nightjars are a small family
(or subfamily) of nocturnal birds related to nightjars, although the taxonomy is uncertain. There are seven species
, mainly found in forest
and scrub from China to Australia. All are placed in one genus
, Eurostopodus. They are long winged birds with plumage patterned with grey and brown to camouflage them when resting on the ground. They feed on insects caught in flight. A single white egg is laid directly on the ground and incubated by both adults. The chicks can walk soon after hatching.
contains several families of nocturnal insectivores, these are the frogmouth
s, the potoo
s, the Oilbird
and the nightjar
s. The latter family is normally split into two subfamilies, the American nighthawk
s, Chordelinae, and the typical nightjars Caprimulginae. The eared nightjars are sometimes considered a subfamily Eurostopodinae of the Caprimulgidae but some studies have them as a sister group, while others treat them as a clade within the caprimulgids; others consider that the genus Eurostopodus may not be monophyletic. If the presence of ear tufts is a defining taxonomic feature, Great and Malaysian Eared-nightjars could be moved to a genus Lyncornis.
The eared nightjars consist of seven extant species in one genus, Eurostopodus.
at the back of the eye. The beaks are small, but these birds have a very large gape for catching insects in flight. The feet and legs are small and weak, and the toes are partly webbed. the middle toe's claw has a comb-like pecten on its inner edge, which may be used for plumage care.
The plumage is cryptically
patterned with browns and greys, to make these ground-nesting birds difficult to see when resting during the day. Some species have white patches in the wings, and two, Great and Malaysian, have "ear tufts" at the rear of the crown. The songs of these birds are three or more repeated notes, sometimes with whistles or bubbling sounds, and are typically given at dawn or dusk.
. These are birds of open woodland or forest clearings and edges.
of the plumage to avoid predators. The male takes over incubation during the night, but roosts some distance away when the female is brooding. If necessary, the female will attempt to distract the intruder away from the eggs, or perform a defence display with spread wings, puffed throat and hissing sounds. The eggs hatch in three to four weeks, and the young can walk soon after hatching. the chicks are fed by both parents.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(or subfamily) of nocturnal birds related to nightjars, although the taxonomy is uncertain. There are seven species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, mainly found in forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
and scrub from China to Australia. All are placed in one genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Eurostopodus. They are long winged birds with plumage patterned with grey and brown to camouflage them when resting on the ground. They feed on insects caught in flight. A single white egg is laid directly on the ground and incubated by both adults. The chicks can walk soon after hatching.
Taxonomy
The order CaprimulgiformesCaprimulgiformes
The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes a number of birds with global distribution . They are generally insectivorous and nocturnal...
contains several families of nocturnal insectivores, these are the frogmouth
Frogmouth
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are found from India across southern Asia to Australia.They are named for their large flattened hooked bills and huge frog-like gape, which they use to capture insects. Their flight is weak.They rest horizontally on...
s, the potoo
Potoo
The potoos are a family, Nyctibiidae of near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are sometimes called Poor-me-ones, after their haunting calls. There are seven species in one genus, Nyctibius, in tropical Central and South America.These are nocturnal insectivores which...
s, the Oilbird
Oilbird
The Oilbird , also known as Guácharo, is a bird found in the northern areas of South America . They are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the Oil Palm and tropical laurels, and are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world...
and the nightjar
Nightjar
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills. They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers from the mistaken belief that they suck milk from goats . Some New World species are named as nighthawks...
s. The latter family is normally split into two subfamilies, the American nighthawk
Nighthawk
A nighthawk is a nocturnal bird of the subfamily Chordeilinae, within the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae. Nighthawks are medium-sized New World birds, with long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They usually nest on the ground. They feed on flying insects. The Least Nighthawk, at and ,...
s, Chordelinae, and the typical nightjars Caprimulginae. The eared nightjars are sometimes considered a subfamily Eurostopodinae of the Caprimulgidae but some studies have them as a sister group, while others treat them as a clade within the caprimulgids; others consider that the genus Eurostopodus may not be monophyletic. If the presence of ear tufts is a defining taxonomic feature, Great and Malaysian Eared-nightjars could be moved to a genus Lyncornis.
The eared nightjars consist of seven extant species in one genus, Eurostopodus.
- Archbold's Nightjar, Eurostopodus archboldi
- Spotted NightjarSpotted NightjarThe Spotted Nightjar is a species of Nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Australia and Indonesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests....
, Eurostopodus argus - Satanic Nightjar, Eurostopodus diabolicus
- Great Eared Nightjar, Eurostopodus macrotis
- White-throated NightjarWhite-throated NightjarThe White-throated Nightjar is a species of Nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Eurostopodus mystacalis- New Caledonian White-throated Nightjar, Eurostopodus (mystacalis) exsul - possibly extinct (mid-20th century)
- Papuan Nightjar, Eurostopodus papuensis
- Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Eurostopodus temminckii
Description
The eared nightjars are large compared to many nightjars, but otherwise are similar in structure. They are long-winged and long-tailed, and are light for the wing area, making them powerful and agile in flight. An important difference from typical nightjars is the lack of bristles around the beak. They are nocturnal and have a reflective tapetum lucidumTapetum lucidum
The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eye of many vertebrate animals....
at the back of the eye. The beaks are small, but these birds have a very large gape for catching insects in flight. The feet and legs are small and weak, and the toes are partly webbed. the middle toe's claw has a comb-like pecten on its inner edge, which may be used for plumage care.
The plumage is cryptically
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
patterned with browns and greys, to make these ground-nesting birds difficult to see when resting during the day. Some species have white patches in the wings, and two, Great and Malaysian, have "ear tufts" at the rear of the crown. The songs of these birds are three or more repeated notes, sometimes with whistles or bubbling sounds, and are typically given at dawn or dusk.
Distribution and habitat
The eared nightjars are found from China through Southeast Asia to Australia. Tropical populations are mostly sedentary, but the two Australian species (Spotted and White-throated Nightjars), and Great Eared Nightjars from the north of their range are partial migrantsBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
. These are birds of open woodland or forest clearings and edges.
Breeding
No nest is built, the single white egg is laid directly on to the ground or leaf litter. The female incubates the egg during the day, relying mainly on the excellent camouflageCamouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
of the plumage to avoid predators. The male takes over incubation during the night, but roosts some distance away when the female is brooding. If necessary, the female will attempt to distract the intruder away from the eggs, or perform a defence display with spread wings, puffed throat and hissing sounds. The eggs hatch in three to four weeks, and the young can walk soon after hatching. the chicks are fed by both parents.