A new key to the identification of the Afrotropical nightjars (Caprimulgidae)

A new dichotomous key to the identification of the Afrotropical nightjars, based mainly on mensural characters, is presented. This replaces the author 's 1984 key to the nightjar species of Africa and Its islands, which has be en revised to incorporate extensive additional data and to take into accoun t the subsequent description of two new African species and the elevation o f three subspecies to species status. The biometrics of 21 key characters, hosed on the measurements of 1351 specimens, ore included in five supportin g tables. Some data are shown separately for the sexes, for a few subspecie s and for the immature moles of one species.