• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species remains known with certainty from only a single specimen, taken almost 70 years ago. However, unconfirmed sight and sound recordings indicate that it may be widespread across central Africa. Due to the lack of information on its population size, range and trend, the species is therefore assessed as Data Deficient.
Survey work is urgently needed to understand the population size, distribution and trend of this species. 

Population justification
The species' population size has not been quantified. There are no confirmed records of this species since the holotype was collected in 1955, but its calls may have been recorded in a few places in central Africa over the past 30 years, although the allocation of these calls to C. prigoginei has not been confirmed. Urgent survey work is needed to search for the species and estimate its population size.

Trend justification
Unknown. The continued clearance of forest for cultivation and livestock-grazing (Omari et al. 1999) is causing degradation and loss of forest within the species’ suspected range (Global Forest Watch 2024, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein).  However since the species is known from only a single specimen, its range, habitat use and tolerances are wholly unknown, such that land cover cannot presently be used to predict possible trends.

Caprimulgus prigoginei remains known from a single female collected in August 1955 at Malenge, in the Itombwe Mountains of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Dowsett-Lemaire 2009), and this specimen is now held at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA 78975). A sound recording of two nightjars, in Itombwe at c.1,700 m in 1996, possibly refers to this species (T. Butynski in litt. 1999). Identical tape-recordings were obtained in northern Congo in 1996 (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 1998a) and south-east Cameroon in 1997 (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2000), suggesting that the species may be more widespread. Additional records of nightjars that probably refer to this species (Butchart 2007) have come from Gabon in 1985 (Brosset and Erard 1986, F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2006), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 1998a, F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2006), the Republic of Congo (Dowsett-Lemaire 2009) and Cameroon (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 1998b) in the 1990s. More surveys in order to confirm its range are urgently needed.

The species may be restricted to transitional (between lowland and montane) forest, from which the type was collected at 1,280 m (Prigogine 1974, Louette 1990); however, at this altitude it may equally be found in either lowland or montane forest (Prigogine 1974, Louette 1990). Considering the unconfirmed records of this species' calls and observations of suspected individuals of this species, it may range from 350-1,860m and prefer forest with a broken canopy (N. Cleere in litt. 2016, Dowsett-Lemaire 2009). 

Forest clearance for smallholder agriculture is a serious threat to forest-dependent bird species in Itombwe, where a maize blight since the early 1990s reduced yields and forced farmers to clear forest for new farms (Omari et al. 1999). Clearance of forest for livestock-grazing, particularly at higher altitudes, is also a threat (Omari et al. 1999) to forest-dependent bird species in the region. These are therefore plausible threats that may affect the Prigogine's Nightjar, however the scope and severity of these on the species are wholly unknown. 

Conservation Actions Underway
Itombwe Forest is part of the Natural Reserve of Itwombe, which is also designated as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). This area has been natioally protected since 2006 (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2024).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys in northern Congo, Gabon and south-east Cameroon and mistnet the species to confirm whether records refer to C. prigoginei or a new species (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2000). Conduct surveys using tape playback in forest habitat in the region, including, in addition to the countries mentioned above, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, to clarify its range (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2000, H. Rainey in litt. 2024). Conduct surveys in suitable habitat in the Itombwe Mountains to attempt to determine its population size and further understand its ecology and the current threats it faces. The elaboration of a field guide of bird species for the Democratic Republic of Congo may be useful in this context (H. Rainey in litt. 2024). Facilitate conservation action in collaboration with traditional authorities to limit further habitat degradation (Omari et al. 1999). Dedicated capacity building over the entire region is crucial in order to implement these proposed actions (H. Rainey in litt. 2024).

19 cm. Small nightjar, described from one female specimen. It looks vaguely similar to female Fiery-necked Nightjar C. pectoralis. Voice It is presently not known how to identify this species but if sound recordings of unidentified nightjars prove to be of this species, then its song is very similar to C. natalensis (Dowsett-Lemaire 2009).

Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.

Contributors
Butynski, T.M., Cleere, N., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Plumptre, A., Rainey, H., Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.R.S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Prigogine's Nightjar Caprimulgus prigoginei. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/prigogines-nightjar-caprimulgus-prigoginei on 19/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 19/12/2024.