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Aegothelidae - Owlet-nightjars

 

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Caprimulgiformes 
Family: Aegothelidae

Barred Owlet-nightjarThe Aegothelidae family is made up of the owlet-nightjars. There are 10 species in this family.

They are found in New Guinea and Australia. Like their name suggests, they look like a cross between owls and nightjars.

Unlike some of the other members of the Caprimulgiformes order, they have tiny bills. Their bills are surrounded by bristles. While their bill is small, they can open it really wide! They have soft plumage that is a mixture of blacks, browns, grays, and white. Their plumage looks like the bark of a tree and helps camouflage them during the day. Owlet-nightjars have large round eyes and small feet.

Owlet-nightjars are nocturnal and eat insects. Owlet-nightjars usually hunt in the air, but sometimes they will hunt on the ground.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct Not Enough DataNot Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct Not Enough DataNot Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.


U.S. Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Endangered in US Endangered in US Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key
Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH

More Info
More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image

Resource Key
profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

New Hampshire Species

None

North/Central American Species

None

Other Species Around the World

Allied Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles affinis Not Enough Data Asia Australia image More Info
Archbold's Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles archboldi Least Concern Asia Australia More Info
Australian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles cristatus Least Concern Australia image More Info
Barred Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles bennettii Least Concern Asia Australia image More Info
Feline Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles insignis Least Concern Asia Australia image More Info
Moluccan  Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles crinifrons Least Concern Asia More Info
Mountain Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles albertisi Least Concern Asia Australia image More Info
New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar -Aegotheles savesi Critically Endangered Australia image More Info
Starry Owlet-nightjar  - Aegotheles tatei Not Enough Data Australia More Info
Wallace's Owlet-nightjar  - Aegotheles wallacii least concern Asia Australia More Info

Additional Information

Allied Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles affinis profile Photos Not Enough Data Asia Australia
The allied owlet-nightjar is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Archbold's Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles archboldi profile Least Concern Asia Australia
The Archbold's owlet-nightjar is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Australian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles cristatus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The Australian owlet-nightjar is the smallest of the nocturnal birds found in Australia.
Source: Birds in Backyards Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Australian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles cristatus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
You'll only see the Australian owlet-nightjar in the day if it is peering out of a roosting hollow.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Australian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles cristatus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The Australian owlet-nightjar's eyes do not reflect light at night like the eyes of some other nocturnal birds.
Source: Perth Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School

Australian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles cristatus profile Photos Audio Least Concern Australia
The Australian owlet-nightjar can range in color from gray to a rusty reddish-brown.
Source: Graeme Chapman Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Barred Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles bennettii profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern Asia Australia
The barred owlet-nightjar is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Feline Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles insignis profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern Asia Australia
The feline owlet-nightjar is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Moluccan Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles crinifrons profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern Asia
The Moluccan  owlet-nightjar is also known as the long-whiskered Owlet-nightjar.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles albertisi profile Photos Video Audio Least Concern Asia Australia
The mountain owlet-nightjar is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles savesi profile Photos Photos Critically Endangered Australia
Most of what is known about this species comes from two specimens and one sighting in 1990.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Starry Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles tatei profile Photos Video Audio Not Enough Data Australia
The starry owlet-nightjar is found in Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Wallace's Owlet-nightjar  - Aegotheles wallacii profile Photos Video least concern Asia Australia
Wallace's owlet-nightjar is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School