Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius is accidental visitor to western Xinjiang. ID & COMPARISON Distinguished from European Nightjar C. europaeus plumipes by lack of white/buff patches (in either sex) on wing or tail (male may show white corners), overall sandy-grey coloring, and by its more uniform patterning, lacking the dark shoulder and obvious buffish line on scapulars and lesser coverts in European Nightjar. Underside of primaries paler with noticeable dark (black) wing tip (more uniformly dark in European). At close range, crown streaks are finer on Egyptian, heavier on plumipes. BARE PARTS Bill horn; feet grey. VOICE Song monotonous purr calls, about 3 per second, in prolonged series. Also chuck-chuck calls similar to other nightjars. — Craig Brelsford
THE NIGHTJARS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers all seven members of Caprimulgidae in China. Click any link:
Great Eared Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka
European Nightjar C. europaeus
Egyptian Nightjar C. aegyptius
Vaurie’s Nightjar C. centralasicus
Large-tailed Nightjar C. macrurus
Savanna Nightjar C. affinis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
