Comparison of the two rupicolous nightjars: the Afrotropical Freckled Nightjar <i>Caprimulgus tristigma</i> and the Neotropical Blackish Nightjar <i>C. nigrescens</i>

Abstract

The Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma and the Blackish Nightjar C. nigrescens are widespread and common within their rupicolous habitat, in the Afrotropics and Neotropics respectively, and may therefore be considered as successful in their adaptation to this habitat, a niche that has not been exploited by any other nightjar species. However, apart from a plumage pattern that matches a rocky substrate, their known life histories provide no common factors to explain this adaptive success. The factors that they do share are common to most other nightjars. While they nest and roost on rocks, their breeding biology is remarkably different. The contrasts and lack of convergence are surprising, and suggest that these two species are not as closely related as their current congeneric status implies. This is supported by recent molecular studies that place the African and South American Caprimulgus species in different well-supported clades.

OSTRICH 2010, 81(2): 145–148