Ladder-tailed Nightjar

SCI Name:  Hydropsalis climacocerca
Protonym:  Caprimulgus climacocercus Arch.Naturgesch. 10 p.269
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Caprimulgidae / Hydropsalis
Taxonomy Code:  latnig1
Type Locality:  Peru.
Author:  von Tschudi
Publish Year:  1844
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HYDROPSALIS
(Caprimulgidae; Ϯ Scissor-tailed Nightjar H. torquata furcifer) Gr. ὑδρο- hudro-  water-  < ὑδωρ hudōr, ὑδατος hudatos  water; ψαλις psalis, ψαλιδος psalidos  pair of scissors; "A. Hirundines terrestres.  Genus. Hydropsalis, Wasserscheere (Nov. Gen.)   Character universalis Caprimulgi; cauda profunde furcata, rectrice utrinque extima elongatissima.   Species:  1. Hydrops. Azarae (Engoulevent à queue en ciseau Azar.  Caprimulgus furcifer Vieill.,  Caprim. psalurus Temm. Pl. col. 157 ♂  158 ♀)  —  2. H. manurus (Caprim. manurus Vieill. n. d. X. p. 239.)    Hydrops. Azarae erscheint in Paraguay mitten im Winter (nie im Frühjahre oder Sommer); fliegt beständig über dem Wasser der Flüsse und an deren Ufern hin und her. Bei Aenderungen der Flugrichtung breitet er die langen seitlichen Federn des Schwanzes wie die Klingen eines Scheere auseinander." (Wagler 1832); "Hydropsalis Wagler, Isis von Oken, 1832, col. 1222. Type, by subsequent designation, Caprimulgus furcifer Vieillot (G. R. Gray, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Bds., 1855, p. 11)." (Peters, 1940, IV, p. 217).
Var. Hydropsallis, Hydropsalia, Pydrosalis, Pydropsalis.
Synon. Antiurus, Diplopsalis, Psalurus, Stenopsis, Thermochalcis.

climacocerca
Gr. κλιμαξ klimax, κλιμακος klimakos ladder; κερκος kerkos tail.

SUBSPECIES

Ladder-tailed Nightjar (schomburgki)
SCI Name: Hydropsalis climacocerca schomburgki
schomburgi / schomburgki / schomburgkii
● Moritz Richard Schomburgk (1811-1890 or 1891) German/Australian botanist, collector, explorer in Guiana 1840-1844, emigrated to South Australia 1849, Director of Botanic Gardens, Adelaide 1866-1890 (subsp. Hydropsalis climacocerca, Micropygia).
● Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk (1804-1865) German/British explorer in Guiana 1840-1844, Consul to San Domingo 1848, Consul to Thailand 1857-1864  (syn. Chrysococcyx maculatus, syn. Lanius schach longicaudatus).

Ladder-tailed Nightjar (climacocerca)
SCI Name: Hydropsalis climacocerca climacocerca
climacocerca
Gr. κλιμαξ klimax, κλιμακος klimakos ladder; κερκος kerkos tail.

Ladder-tailed Nightjar (intercedens)
SCI Name: Hydropsalis climacocerca intercedens
intercedens
L. intercedens, intercedentis  interposed, coming between  < intercedere  to come between.
● Not only does the Growling Riflebird occupy eastern New Guinea, between the ranges of the two subspp. of the Magnificent Riflebird L. magnifica, but the female resembles the female of the nominate subsp. and the male resembles the male of the other (Lophorina).

Ladder-tailed Nightjar (pallidior)
SCI Name: Hydropsalis climacocerca pallidior
pallidior / pallidiora
L. pallidior, pallidioris  paler  < comp. pallidus  pale  < pallere  to be pale.

Ladder-tailed Nightjar (canescens)
SCI Name: Hydropsalis climacocerca canescens
canescens
L. canescens, canescentis  greyish  < canescere  to become hoary or white  < canere  to be grey  < canus grey.
● ex “Van Diemen’s Warbler” of Latham 1787 (subsp. Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).
● ex “Cinereous Godwit” of Pennant 1768, and Latham 1785 (syn. Tringa nebularia).