Nightjar Bird Facts (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

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Buff White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Nightjar can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Nightjar is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Nightjar is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Nightjar is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Nightjar is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Nightjar can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Nightjar can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Nightjar is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Nightjar is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Nightjar is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Nightjar is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Nightjar is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

Resident

Breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Botswana Bulgaria Burundi Cameroon Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Germany Gibraltar Greece India Iran Iraq Italy Kenya Lesotho Libya Malawi Malta Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Somalia South Africa Sudan Syria Tanzania Tunisia Uganda Ukraine Western Sahara Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Georgia Hungary Ireland Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Netherlands Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Turkey Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia South Sudan United Arab Emirates Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Côte D'Ivoire Faroe Islands Ghana Iceland Liberia Mali Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird 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 85

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 40

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 75

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 30

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 70

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

Least Concern ^[1]

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.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

3,000,000 - 6,000,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

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:

Caprimulgidae

Average Lifespan

4 to 8 years

Max Lifespan

12 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include owls, foxes, and domestic cats.

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.