Collared Nightjar
Gactornis enarratus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCaprimulgiformes (Nightjars and Allies)
- FamilyCaprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
- GenusGactornis
- SpeciesGactornis enarratus (Collared Nightjar)
About the Collared Nightjar
The collared nightjar (Gactornis enarratus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. The collared nightjar was formally described in 1871 by the English zoologist George Gray with the binomial name Caprimulgus enarratus based on a specimen collected in Madagascar. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "explained in detail".
A molecular phylogenetic study by Kin-Lan Han and collaborators published in 2010 found that the collared nightjar was not closely related to any other species of nightjar. The authors therefore introduced a new genus Gactornis to accommodate the species. The genus name combines the four single letter abbreviations for the DNA nucleotides (G, A, C, T for guanine, adenine, cytosine, thymine) and the Ancient Greek word ornis meaning "bird". The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
Collared nightjars are 24cm long, with females weighing around 57 g (2.0 oz) and males around 48 g (1.7 oz). Otherwise sexes are similar. Forages for insects by hawking both above and below forest canopy... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Collared Nightjar in Ankarafantsika National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Ankarafantsika National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranomafana National Park | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | |
| 2 | Ankarafantsika National Park | 🇲🇬 Madagascar |