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Large-tailed
Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus Tok-Tok Bird, Tukang Kubur/Kayu, Burung Segan/Malas (Malay) Large-tailed Nightjars feed on moths and other night-flying insects. They are particularly fond of flying termite swarms. They perch-and-wait then swoop down and catch prey on the wing, flying low over the ground, swerving from side to side. Long pointed wings and tails make them acrobatic and silent fliers. They sometimes perch on street lamps, snapping up the insects attracted to the light, particularly after heavy rains. Or they may fly slowly about while keeping a look out (quartering). They are most active at dusk. Their bills can enlarge into an enormous scoop to catch insects in flight. Short but wide, the bill has a special joint half way along the length on either side which allows the tip of the beak to drop even lower. They have a line of bristle-like feathers fringing the beak.
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 This one was seen at the Park sitting on a mud lobster mound |
During
the day, Nightjars sit motionless on the ground, perfectly camouflaged
among the leaf litter. Often they will remain unmoving until you almost
step on them. They may also perch on a low branch. The Nightjar has a brightly coloured mouth, which it may suddenly gape open to startle a predator, thus giving the Nightjar a head start in making its escape. |
Jarring Calls Large-tailed Nightjars have a monotonous repetitious call which sounds like knocking on wood. Thus their Malay name is tukang kayu (woodcutter bird). It is also called burung malas (lazy bird) or the more sinister, tukang kubur (gravedigger bird). This sound is believed to be their territorial call. |
Nightjars don't make a nest and simply lay 1-2 mottled buffy/pinkish eggs on the ground in a shallow depression. They nest in the open, usually in a shaded area, under a tree or bush. The eggs are perfectly camouflaged and look like pebbles. Eggs average 8-9gm, the first egg is usually heavier and larger. Both parents take turns brooding the eggs which hatch in 16-18 days.
The chicks emerge with down feathers and can move away from the nest site 1-2 days after they hatch. To avoid detection, the chicks keep changing their rest spot every night, sometimes siblings rest up separately. During the day, among dead leaves in the undergrowth, the babies' mealy brown feathers camouflage them perfectly. It appears only the female cares for the young until they can fly. Like other ground-nesting birds, she will distract predators by moving away from her eggs or chicks while pretending to have a broken wing. The young are not helpless and when threatened, flap their wings with their bills wide open, lunging forwards in self defence.
In Europe, Nightjars follow night-foraging domestic livestock, eating the insects disturbed by the bigger creatures. People thought the birds fed on the milk of these domesticated animals and mistakenly called the birds "goat-suckers".
Migration? Nightjars don't appear to migrate. They are found in forest edges and open but humid areas such as mangroves, forest edge, scrub, cultivated lands. They are not common in the deep forest.
Status and threats: In Singapore, Large-tailed Nightjars are still rather common and not considered at risk. But they are disturbed by fogging of their habitat and habitat loss.
LINKS
- Malaysia E-Zoo: fact sheet with photo.
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buy these references & others, visit Nature's Niche |
- Morten Strange, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Malaysia and Singapore: including Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Borneo", Periplus, 2000 (p. 168: description, voice, habits, distribution, status, photo).
- Morten Strange, "Tropical Birds of Malaysia and Singapore", Periplus, 2000 (p. 33: habits, habitat, photo).
- David R Wells, "The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 (Non-Passarines)", Academic Press, 1999 (p. 448-450: identification, distribution map, habits, habitat, migration, conservation).
- Morten Strange, "Birds of Southeast Asia: A photographic guide to the birds of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia", New Holland, 1998 (p. 36: photo, facts).
- Lim Kim Seng, "Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore", Nature Society (Singapore), 1999 (Abundance, status, Chinese and Malay names).
- Lim Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, "Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore", Sun Tree, 1997 (p. 45: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, diagram, number of species).
- G W H Davison and Chew Yen Fook, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", New Holland, 1995 (p. 56: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, photo).
- Clive Briffett, "A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore", BP Science Centre,1992 (p. 74: habit, habitat).
- Morten Strange and Allen Jeyarajasingam, "Birds: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", Sun Tree, 1993 (p. 50: description, distribution, habits, habitat, photo).
- Christopher Hails, "Birds of Singapore" illustrated by Frank Jarvis, Times Editions, 1987 reprinted 1995 (p. 96: habits, description, status in Singapore, and lovely drawings of the birds).
- Ramakrishnan RK, "Journal of a Nature Warden: Large-tailed Nightjar", Wetlands Vol 6 No 2, Aug 99 (p. 15; breeding, habitat, habits).
- Lim Kim Seng, "Vanishing Birds of Singapore", Nature Society (Singapore), 1992 (p. 10: status in Singapore).
- G C Madoc, "An Introduction to Malayan Birds", Malayan Nature Society, 1947 (p. 86-88: description, habits, habitat).
- Sir John A S Bucknill and E N Chasen, "Birds of Singapore and South-East Asia", Tynron Press, 1927, edition 1990 (p. 141-142: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, field notes on habits, drawings).
- Prof. Dr. Yong Hoi Sen (ed.), "The Encyclopedia of Malaysia: Animals"; Nocturnal Birds by Siti Hawa bt Yatim, Editions Didier Millet, 1998 (p. 45: habits, habitats).
- Dr. Harold G Cogger (et. al), "Encyclopedia of Animals"; Owls, Frogmouths and Nightjars by Penny Olsen, Weldon Owen, 1993 (p. 330: habits, habitats).