IN-HAND IDENTIFICATION KEY FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN NIGHTJARS

1.Primary 9 more than 176mm Primary 9 less than 176mm

2.Emargination on primary 9 more than 65mm Emargination on primary 9 less than 65mm

3.primary 6 more than 155mm;rectrix 1 shorter than rectrix 5;tomium 21-29mm;tarsus 20-28mm primary 6 less than 155mm;rectrix 1 longer than rectrix 5;tomium 28-34mm;tarsus 14-20mm

4.Apical patch on rectrix 5 less than 55mm Apical patch on rectrix 5 more than 55mm

5.Primary 9 emarginated for less than 38% of its length Primary 9 emarginated for more than 38% of its length

6.Apical patch on rectrix 5 only,not on rectrix 4;centre of bar on inner web of primary 9 well above flexure point of emargination;foot less than 45mm Apical patches on both rectrices 4 and 5;centre of bar on inner web of primary 9 below or opposite flexure point of emargination;foot more than 45mm

THE DIFFERENT VOICES AND HABITS

NAME VOICES HABITS
European Nightjar Sharp koo-ik take off and flight call;wik-wik-wik and chuk alarm calls usually solitare,rarely on ground,feeds over open grounds
fierynecked Nightjar mellow whistle tone introduced by 2 slurred notes,ending with falling koo-WEEU Usually in pairs,hawks prey
Rufouscheeked Nightjar prolonged churring,proceded by 2-4 gulping notes,q-woo,q-woo,q-woo,prrrrrrr Solitare or in pairs.flies with irregular wingbeats and swooping flights
Natal Nightjar Unmusical slow churring chop-chop-chop at 4 notes/second In pairs hawks prey in flight
Freckled Nightjar series of somewhat ringing 2-syllibled whip-wheeu Usually single often sits on roads at night
Mozimbique Nightjar Sustained high pitched,frog like hawks prey in pairs
pennantwinged Nightjar High pitched batlike twittering Usually solitary,partly diurnal

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