Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 269-270.

Order APODIFORMES: Swifts, Hummingbirds and Owlet-nightjars The monophyly of the Caprimulgiformes has long been questioned, as reviewed by Mayr (2002). That Aegotheles does not belong in this order was clearly stated in a generally overlooked study of cranial morphology (Simonetta 1967), in which Aegotheles was found to be more closely related to basal or primitive apodids than to caprimulgids. The differences were so profound that Simonetta erected Aegothelae for the genus (Simonetta 1967: 31). Sibley et al. (1988) also placed Aegotheles at subordinal level, based on DNA evidence, calling the group Aegotheli, apparently unaware of Simonetta’s name (1967). Recent osteological and genetic studies (e.g. Mayr 2002, 2005; Mayr et al. 2003; Barrowclough et al. 2006) provide overwhelming evidence that the Caprimulgiformes (sensu del Hoyo et al. 1999) is paraphyletic, and that Aegothelidae forms a clade with Apodiformes—Hemiprocnidae and Apodidae (swifts) and Trochilidae (hummingbirds)—outside the other members of Caprimulgiformes. Many additional studies (reviewed by Sangster 2005) have supported this relationship. Sangster (2005) gave the non-Linnaean name Daedalornithes for the clade of Apodiformes and Aegotheles, however the relationship can be as easily accommodated by transferring Aegothelae to the Apodiformes (Barrowclough et al. 2006), which suggestion we follow here.

Suborder AEGOTHELAE: Owlet-nightjars Family AEGOTHELIDAE Bonaparte: Owlet-nightjars Aegothelinae Bonaparte, 1853: Compt. Rend. Séa. Acad. Sci., Paris 37(18): 645 – Type genus Aegotheles Vigors & Horsfield, 1827.

Genus Aegotheles Vigors & Horsfield Aegotheles Vigors & Horsfield, 1826: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 15(1): 194 – Type species (by monotypy) Caprimulgus novaehollandiae Latham = Aegotheles cristatus (White). Euaegotheles Mathews, 1918: Birds Australia 7: 52 – Type species (by original designation) Batrachostomus psilopterus Gray = Aegotheles crinifrons (Bonaparte). Megaegotheles Scarlett, 1968: Notornis 15: 254 – Type species (by monotypy) Megaegotheles novaezealandiae Scarlett = Aegotheles novaezealandiae (Scarlett).

Potts (1871, 1873) described a small bird from locations in both Canterbury and Westland that he considered was either a small owl or a member of Podargidae. It was poorly described and no specimen was kept, but it was described as the size of a kingfisher and of very gentle nature. It is possible that this bird was Aegotheles novaezealandiae, not otherwise recorded alive. The use of the name Strix parvissima by Ellman indicates that this bird was known several years before Potts (1871), making the name available. However, in the absence of an adequate description these records are unidentifiable, and the following names are nomina dubia: Strix parvissima Ellman, 1861: Zoologist 19: 7465. Nomen dubium. Strix parvissima Potts, 1871: Trans. N.Z. Inst. 2: 68 – Rangitata River, Canterbury. Nomen dubium. Athene (Strix) parvissima Potts; Potts 1873, Trans. N.Z. Inst. 5: 172. Nomen dubium.

† Aegotheles novaezealandiae (Scarlett) New Zealand Owlet-nightjar Megaegotheles novaezealandiae Scarlett, 1968: Notornis 15: 254 – Canaan, Takaka, Nelson. Aegotheles novaezealandiae (Scarlett); Olson, Balouet & Fisher 1987, Gerfaut 77: 349. Aegotheles novaezelandiae (Scarlett); Tennyson & Martinson 2006, Extinct Birds of New Zealand: 104. Unjustified emendation.

Extinct. Widespread at Late Pleistocene and Holocene fossil sites (particularly caves) in the North and South Islands. Rarely recorded from middens. Larger than Aegotheles of Australia and probably flightless or nearly so (Rich & Scarlett 1977). Olson et al. (1987) synonymised Megaegotheles with Aegotheles. The phylogeny of Aegothelidae was recently assessed, based on mtDNA sequences, and A. novaezealandiae shown to be the sister taxon of A. savesi from New Caledonia. Together they are basal in the genus (Dumbacher et al. 2003).