‘Cryptic’ nocturnal bird — with unique song — turns out to be new species. See it

Hidden in the darkness, a “cryptic” bird flew through the forest on an island in southeast Asia. Occasionally, it stopped on a branch and called out. The unique song caught the attention of nearby scientists. It came from a new species. Nightjars are a group of widely distributed birds with distinct songs but generally similar looks. They are “among the most difficult bird species to study due to their unobtrusive and nocturnal behaviour and cryptic plumage,” according to a study published June 24 in the peer-reviewed journal Ibis. Birdwatchers on...