夜鹰目

普通夜鹰 Grey Nightjar
Caprimulgus indicus

中型夜鹰
体长 28~32 cm

虹膜 /iris

深褐色 /dark brown

嘴 /bill

淡黑色 /blackish

脚 /legs and feet

淡棕褐色 /brownish

目 │ 夜鹰目CAPRIMULGIFORMES 科 │ 夜鹰科Caprimulgidae

野外识别 │ 具大块白色喉斑。上体灰褐色，密杂以黑褐色和灰白色虫蠹斑。外侧尾羽端部具白斑。在夜晚常常发出急促的、喋喋不休的“ chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk ”声，多数情况下连续叫 5 声以上，这也是普通夜鹰的特征。

居留及分布 │ 夏候鸟、旅鸟。主要分布于亚洲东南部、中国。南岭地区分布广泛，记录于大东山、龙潭角、大顶山、乳阳。

生境及习性 │ 夜行性鸟类，白天多卧伏于林中草地或树干上。栖息于山区森林及灌丛中。飞行快速而无声。在飞行过程中捕食昆虫。营巢于林中树下或灌木旁边地上，巢甚简陋。繁殖期 5—8 月。窝卵数 2 枚，卵白色或灰白色。

Field identification │ A dark nightjar distinguished in flight from Savanna Nightjar by its more falcon-like profile and much smaller pale patches (white on males, buffy on females) on the primaries and edges of the tail. Seen on the ground, it has a very dark scapular patch (not shown by Savanna Nightjar) and is mainly dark grey with a complex pattern of black, silver-grey, white and buff markings.The territorial call is a rapid burst of up to 16 notes chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk lasting 2-4 seconds,repeated at short intervals for minutes on end.

Distribution & status │ Breeds from the Himalayas through Myanmar east through much of China to SE Siberia, Korea and Japan and south to the Malay Peninsula, and winters south to Sumatra,Borneo and the Philippines. The nominate subspecies occurs through the eastern part of the breeding range including southeast China. In Nanling, it is a fairly common summer visitor, recorded at Dadongshan, Longtanjiao, Dadingshan and Ruyang.

Habitat & habits │ Grey Nightjars occur in hill forests in the breeding season, favouring areas close to streams and rivers. They are active at night and feed on insects, especially moths, beetles, bugs,flying ants, cicadas and locusts. Males on territory call from the air or from a tree-stump. Nesting takes place in April-May in Guangdong.