Abstract
The first phylogenetic analysis of osteological characters in the Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies) provides strong evidence that this order is paraphyletic. Well supported is monophyly of a clade comprising Caprimulgidae, Nyctibiidae, Aegothelidae and the traditional Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds). Within this clade Nyctibiidae (potoos) and Caprimulgidae (nightjars) on the one hand, and Aegothelidae (owlet-nightjars) and the traditional Apodiformes on the other are sister taxa. Whereas monophyly of Nyctibiidae and Caprimulgidae is in accordance with most previous studies, monophyly of the so far poorly studied Aegothelidae and the traditional Apodiformes has not been suggested by previous authors. The affinities of the Steatornithidae (oilbirds) and Podargidae (frog-mouths) cannot be conclusively resolved at present.
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