Nechisar nightjar
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nechisar nightjar (Caprimulgus solala) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is now thought to be a hybrid. It is endemic to Ethiopia.[1]
| Nechisar nightjar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Topside of the type specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Caprimulgus |
| Species: | C. solala |
| Binomial name | |
| Caprimulgus solala Safford, Ash, Duckworth, Telfer & Zewdie, 1995 | |
The species was first discovered in 1990 when researchers discovered a decomposing specimen in the Nechisar National Park.[2][3] After bringing back a single wing from the specimen to the Natural History Museum in London, it was determined to be a previously unknown species, based on a combination of its wing length and the position of a white patch on the outer primaries.[4] Its specific name, solala, means "only a wing".[3]
Its natural habitat is subtropical. It is probably endemic to Nechisar National Park.[citation needed]
In 2025, researchers taking DNA samples from the Nechisar specimen and other African nightjars concluded that the individual was likely a hybrid of a female Standard-winged Nightjar and a male Freckled Nightjar. This hybrid combination would be a first confirmed case of hybridization of Old World nightjars.[4][5]
