European Nightjar

European Nightjar in desert scrubland. Little Rann of Kutchh, Gujarat, India.

About the European Nightjar:

The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a distinctive bird in the family Caprimulgidae. They can be found throughout Europe, Central and West Asia and parts of Africa.

These small nocturnal birds measure around 25-30cm in length and weight between 50 to 100 grams. Their distinctive grayish brown and streaked plumage make them perfectly camouflaged. They inhabit a wide range of habitats such as desert, scrubland, open plains with some cover, heaths, moorland, and woodland. Here they feed primarily on flying insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, mantises, mayflies, dragonflies, crickets and moths.

European nightjars are migratory. They leave their breeding grounds between August-October and reach their wintering grounds in Africa and Asia. They return to their breeding grounds in the early summer. The call of the male European nightjar is a continuous churring sound.

Extended gallery of Asian Birdlife

You can find out more about Nightjar here.