Feline owlet-nightjar

Aegotheles insignis

TAXONOMY

Aegotheles insignis Salvadori, 1875, Hatam, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Monotypic.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Reddish or large owlet-nightjar; French: Grand égothèle; German: Käuzchenschwalm; Spanish: Egotelo grande.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

12 in (30 cm); 2.1–3.5 oz (59–98 g). Two well-defined color morphs—rufous and brown; intermediates also occur. upperparts have sparse whitish streaks or spots and prominent lateral crown stripes; throat is buff or white; underparts have bold whitish spots. Sexes are similar.

DISTRIBUTION

New Guinea.

HABITAT

Montane forests.

BEHAVIOR

Solitary, secretive, and little known.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Diet of insects, including beetles.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nest and eggs unknown.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.