A new key to the identification of the Afrotropical nightjars (Caprimulgidae)

Abstract

Jockson, H.D. 2000. A new key to the identification of the Afrotropicol nightjars (Caprimulgidae). Ostrich 71 (3&4): 371-379. A new dichotomous key to the identification of the Afrotropicol nightjars, based mainly on mensural Characters, is presented. This replaces the author's 1984 key to the nightjor species of Africa and its islands, which has been revised to incorporate extensive additional data and to take into account the subsequent description of two new African species and the elevation of three subspecies to species status. The biometrics of 21 key chorocters, based on the measurements of 1351 specimens, are included in five supporting tables. Some data are shown separately for the sexes, for a few subspecies and for the immature males of one species.