Nyctidromus merrilli (Sennett, 1888)

Sigurðsson, Snorri & Cracraft, Joel, 2014, Deciphering the diversity and history of New World nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) using molecular phylogenetics, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 170 (3), pp. 506-545 : 541

NYCTIDROMUS MERRILLI SENNETT, 1888

Definition

Previously N. a. merrilli , and includes individuals assigned to N. a. insularis, N. a. intercedens, and N. a. yucatanensis. It is elevated to full species status and is the sister species of a clade containing N. albicollis and N. derbyanus .

Diagnosis

Nyctidromus merrilli is intermediate in size, and the plumage is both lighter and greyer than N. albicollis and N. derbyanus , with a slate-grey coloration on the crown and back being particularly noticeable. There are also conspicuous black patterns on the coverts of N. merrilli , which in both N. albicollis and N. derbyanus tend to be browner. Some individuals in arid areas of Mexico are slightly more reddish in colour, but overall the three named forms within N. merrilli (insularis, merrilli , and yucatanensis) are similar to one another.

Comments

See comments in previous section on N. derbyanus .