Eurasian Nightjar in Karachi


On 25 October 2013, this Nightjar was photographed, at its not very cryptic daytime roost, at the Dutch Consulate in Karachi. The Islbirder Team is grateful to HGS and his colleague, the finder and photographer, for forwarding this excellent photograph to us and allowing us to publish it within our Blog. We have seen Grey Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar and Savanna Nightjar in Pakistan but we have never found one at its daylight roost.

Whilst the quality of the photograph is outstanding Nightjars are notoriously difficult to identify; however, we will give it a go. Karachi falls within the range of three Nightjar species recorded in Pakistan. These are: Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis, Sykes’s Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis and Eurasian Nighjar Caprimulgus europaeus. The first two species are resident and the latter is a summer breeder and passage migrant. The date and location; especially its unusual roosting preference may indicate this bird is indeed a migrant rather that a resident species.

The long wings and tail are indicative of Eurasian Nightjar and the grey colour of the bird photographed falls within the range of plumage variation of this species. The lanceolated and bold streaking on the crown and nape plus other plumage detail all help us to believe that this is a EURASIAN NIGHTJAR taking a breather at an appropriate diplomatic Consulate. However, if any of our readers have alternative views we would be only too pleased to receive them. I am very jealous as I wish we'd seen this fabulous bird.

Eurasian Nightjar at the Netherlands Consulate, Karachi

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