Caprimulgus europaeus
The Nightjar is a medium-sized, Cuckoo-like bird with cryptic plumage. Its mottled brown and grey feathers provide excellent camouflage. They have a flat head, large black eyes, and a tiny bill that opens to reveal a surprisingly wide mouth.
Males are distinguished by white spots on the wings and tail tips, which are absent in females - this is best seen in flight. Juveniles resemble females but have softer, fluffier plumage.
Length
24cm to 28cm
Wingspan
52cm to 60cm
Weight
51g to 101g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Nightjars inhabit open woodlands, heathlands, and forest edges across Europe and parts of Asia. They prefer areas with scattered trees and bushes for roosting and nesting.
These birds are summer visitors to the UK and northern Europe, migrating to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. They are present in the UK from May to September, most common in the south.
The following locations hold Nightjars in the summer:
Up to 3000 meters
Temperate, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Nightjar. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
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Share your thoughtsOur bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Nightjar displays remarkable agility, with a distinctive flight pattern alternating between quick wingbeats and gliding. Their ability to catch insects on the wing and perform aerial displays during breeding season demonstrates exceptional manoeuvrability.
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
As a medium-sized bird weighing between 51-101 grams, the Nightjar possesses moderate strength. Whilst capable of long-distance migration, they are not known for particularly powerful physical feats.
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Nightjars show considerable adaptability, inhabiting various environments from open woodlands to heathlands, and forest edges. Their ability to thrive in elevations up to 3000 metres and their long-distance migration habits further demonstrate their adaptiveness.
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Nightjars are not typically aggressive birds. Their primary defence mechanism relies on camouflage and avoiding detection rather than confrontation. However, they may display some territorial behaviour during breeding season.
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The Nightjar's endurance is noteworthy, particularly considering their long-distance migration between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Their ability to hunt actively throughout the night and their sustained churring calls, which can last for several minutes without pause, also indicate good endurance.
Nightjars are insectivores, primarily feeding on moths and beetles. They catch prey on the wing, using their excellent eyesight, wide mouths and bristles around the beak to funnel insects into their throats.
Their silent flight allows them to approach prey undetected, and they even confine their hunting to dusk, dawn, and moonlit nights.
Nightjars are nocturnal, becoming active at dusk and dawn. They have a distinctive flight pattern, alternating between quick wingbeats and gliding. These birds often perch lengthwise on branches, blending seamlessly with tree bark.
The male Nightjar's song is a distinctive, mechanical insect-like churring that can last for several minutes without pause. It resembles a distant motorcycle engine, described as 'churr-churr-churr'. This strange sound is the male's song and is usually heard in the early evening and before dawn.
Both sexes produce a variety of frog-like contact calls and hiss when threatened. They also make soft 'coo-ik' calls in flight.
Nightjars breed from May to August, with males performing aerial displays and churring calls to attract mates. They do not build nests; instead, they lay eggs directly on the ground in pine plantations and heathland.
Females typically lay two eggs, which are oval and creamy-white with brown and grey markings. These highly camouflaged eggs blend well with the surrounding leaf litter or bare ground.
Incubation lasts about 17-21 days, shared by both parents. Chicks fledge after 16-19 days but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.
While listed as Least Concern globally, Nightjar populations have declined in parts of Europe due to habitat loss.
Conservation efforts focus on maintaining and restoring suitable breeding habitats, particularly heathlands and young woodland areas.
European Nightjar, Eurasian Nightjar
4 to 8 years
12 years [4]
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Caprimulgus europaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22689887A86103675.
View sourcereport, 1999: del Hoyo et al.
website, 2012: BTO Ringing Data
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