 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2021) |
| New Caledonian owlet-nightjar | |
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| Illustration by Joseph Smit, 1881 | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Aegotheliformes |
| Family: | Aegothelidae |
| Genus: | Aegotheles |
| Species: | A. savesi
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| Binomial name | |
| Aegotheles savesi Layard, EL & Layard, ELC, 1881
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The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles savesi), also known as the enigmatic owlet-nightjar, is a large owlet-nightjar with vermiculated grey-brown and black plumage. It has a long, slightly rounded tail, short, rounded wings, and long, stout legs. Its voice is unknown, but other owlet-nightjar species make churring and whistling sounds. It is the second-largest known owlet-nightjar (only the extinct New Zealand owlet-nightjar was larger), much larger than the Australian owlet-nightjar.[citation needed]
The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar is endemic to New Caledonia’s Melaleuca savanna and humid forests. Other owlet-nightjars are solitary, nest in holes in trees, and forage from a perch, both flying out to catch flying insects (hawking) and descending onto prey on the ground or on trunks and branches. It is unknown if these habits apply to the New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, but this species is larger and has longer legs than the other species, so it may be more terrestrial.[citation needed] Although according to the lastest sighter of the bird, Jonathan Ekstrom (see ref 5) it was observed to be hawking in the trees, the two features suggesting it likely still partakes in both the same behaviours to an extent. It is also similar however much larger than the Australian Owlet Nightjar.
The type specimen was collected after the bird flew into a bedroom in the village of Tonghoué. This large owlet-nightjar is only known from two specimens taken in 1880 and 1915, two other confirmed sightings and two other partly disputed sightings and one unconfirmed debated sighting. The most recent report is from a 1998 expedition which saw a large nightjar foraging for insects at dusk in Rivière Ni Valley. That report has been taken to suggest that the species may still survive in small numbers, but that total population is likely smaller than 50 individuals and declining.[1]
The New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, often referred to as A. savesi has often been confused with A. cristatus. In 1966 A. savesi was classified under A. cristatus, which has been misleading due to their different features and color. (Olson 1987)
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2018) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Aegotheles savesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22689559A129328996. Retrieved 29 February 2020.