Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Visual Identification
Appearance
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.
Size
Length
24cm to 28cm
Wingspan
52cm to 60cm
Weight
51g to 101g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
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:
- New Forest, Hampshire
- Gwaith Powdwr Nature Reserve, Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales
- RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk
Elevation Range
Up to 3000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical
Distribution Map
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.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our 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.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
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.
Agility
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.
Strength
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.
Adaptability
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.
Aggressiveness
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.
Endurance
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.
Diet
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.
Behaviour
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.
Vocalisation
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.
Nesting & Breeding
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.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
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.
Birdwatching Tips
- Listen for their distinctive churring call at dusk in woodland clearings or heathlands
- Look for their silhouette against the night sky as they hunt for insects
- Search for them roosting on tree branches during the day, where they sit motionless and camouflaged
- In the UK, visit heathlands and young forestry plantations from May to August
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
European Nightjar, Eurasian Nightjar
Family:
CaprimulgidaeAverage Lifespan
4 to 8 years
Max Lifespan
12.1 years [4]
Predators
Did You Know?
- Nightjars have bristles around their mouths to help funnel flying insects into their wide gapes.
- Their eyes reflect light, giving them excellent night vision for hunting in low-light conditions.
- The name 'Goatsucker' comes from an old myth that they sucked milk from goats at night.
- The derivation of the word Nightjar is believed to stem from their nocturnal habits and sometimes jarring vocalisations. Birds from this family are also known as Goatsuckers and Nighthawks in other parts of the world.
References
- 1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Caprimulgus europaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22689887A86103675.
View source - 3
report, 1999: del Hoyo et al.
- 4
website, 2012: BTO Ringing Data
View source
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