Bonaparte's Nightjar illustration
Birdsong field guide

Bonaparte's Nightjar

Caprimulgus concretus

A small, elusive nocturnal bird of Southeast Asian forests, characterized by its dark, intricately patterned plumage and preference for lowland habitats.

What it sounds like

A series of soft, liquid, and hollow notes often described as a mellow, bubbling 'pook-pook-pook'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Rec. yann muzika · IndonesiaCC BY-NC-SAXeno-canto

Field notes

  • Named after French biologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte.
  • It is one of the smallest nightjars in its range, typically measuring only 21 to 22 centimeters in length.
  • The species is sexually dimorphic; males possess conspicuous white patches on the outer tail feathers, whereas females have buffy patches.
  • It is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to the rapid loss of its lowland forest habitat to logging and agriculture.
  • Unlike many other nightjars that prefer open country, this species is closely associated with primary and mature secondary forests.
Habitat
Primary and secondary lowland evergreen forests, forest edges, and occasionally coastal scrub.
Range
The Sundaic region, including Sumatra, Borneo, and Belitung Island.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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