The standard-winged nightjar (Caprimulgus longipennis) is a nocturnal bird in the nightjar family. Previously placed with the pennant-winged nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius) in their own genus, Macrodipteryx, it is native to Africa and displays extreme sexual dimorphism. During the breeding season, males will grow broad ornamental flight feathers longer than their body.
Distribution and habitat
The standard-winged nightjar is a resident breeder in Africa from southern Senegal east to Ethiopia. It spends the non-breeding season in the Sahel region to the north. Its habitat includes lightly wooded savanna, with some scrub, as well as agricultural land in thickly wooded savanna. but is typically found from sea level up to elevations of . on each wing elongated to up to ,
Behaviour
Like other nightjars, the standard-winged nightjar feeds on insects in flight, their mouths opening wide for moths and beetles. It flies at dusk, when the highest quantity of prey is available, though its foraging patterns change depending on moonlight, with later, more nocturnal foraging correlated with higher levels of moonlight. It may also feed on swarms of insects disturbed by fires and artificial lights, a behaviour which has been linked to bird strike by cars when their lights illuminate roads.
During breeding season, male and (less frequently) female standard-winged nightjars will gather in patches of soil with little vegetation to forage and for males to perform display flights.
thumb|center|Male standard-winged nightjar in flight displaying its ornamental feathers
Nomenclature
Though the standard-winged nightjar was originally placed in the genus Caprimulgus as in its first identification by George Shaw in 1796, it was later placed in the genus Macrodipteryx along with the pennant-winged nightjar. The two species are closely related,
Ecology and conservation
Standard-winged nightjars are migratory birds