Large-tailed Nightjar’s failed nesting
Posted by BESG on 20 June 09, Saturday
Contributed by Tan Gim Cheong
Tan Gim Cheong came across the nest of the Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) at Tuas, Singapore on 8th June 2009. It was just a simple scrape on the ground with a single egg. A normal clutch is one to two eggs. The female was around, as she incubates during the day.
The egg is oval, glossy, pale pinkish-cream and indistinctly blotched and spotted grey. It was slightly cracked, indicating that the chick was trying to break out.
A return trip the next day saw lots of ants around the egg. The tip of the chick’s bill was protruding from the break in the shell and the ants had moved inside the egg. The chick was obviously dead. The adult was not around.
Another failed nesting. The percentage of nesting failure among birds is generally high…
Image by Tan Gim Cheong.
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Categories: Nesting-failed
Comment by zatoichi
Made Friday, 27 of November , 2009 at 4:57 pm
There was a failed nesting for Large Tailed Nightjars at SBG in April this year too. Park cleaners stepped on and trampled one of the eggs, and i caught this guy trying to steal the remaining one for his girlfriend who was watching.
Comment by YC
Made Friday, 27 of November , 2009 at 6:25 pm
It would be great if you have a photograph…
