The Indian (nominate) and the Sri Lankan populations (ssp. kelaarti) are included in this species while jotaka (whose egg coloration and calls differs) has been separated and elevated to a full species, Grey nightjar, by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005).
The Indian (nominate) and Sri Lankan populations of the species are included, but jotaka, with distinct egg coloration and vocalizations, is now recognized as a separate species, the Grey nightjar, according to Rasmussen and Anderton's (2005) classification.