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Large-tailed Nightjar’s failed nesting

YC Wee
on 20th June 2009

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.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

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2 responses

  1. 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.

    Reply

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

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