Mees’s Nightjar
Caprimulgus meesi
- Family
- Nightjars and Nighthawks (Caprimulgidae)
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
Overview
Mees's nightjar (Caprimulgus meesi) is a member of the nightjar family (Caprimulgidae) described as new to science in 2004.
It is a representative of the large-tailed nightjar complex found on Flores and Sumba, Indonesia. Previously unrecognised as a separate taxon due to its lack of morphological distinctness, Sangster and Rozendaal (2004) described this new species on the basis of its vocalisations, which differ significantly from those of the large-tailed nightjar races resident on other islands in the Lesser Sundas.
The species is named after Gerlof Mees, former curator of the Natural History Museum, Leiden.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Lesser Sundas (Sumba and Flores).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Mees's nightjar
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.