The European Nightjar
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, a Red-listed priority species in Britain.
Nightjar are nocturnal. They are most active at dawn and dusk when they hunt for moths and beetles on the wing. Nightjar fly silently and snatch their meals from the air with their wide-opening mouths. When nightjar are not in flight, they can be very difficult to spot because of their outstanding camouflage. Their feathers blend perfectly with the forest floor, making the bird look like a piece of bark.
Male nightjar have white tips on their wings and clap them together in flight to attract a mate. It is the male which makes the unusual 'chur call' that nightjar are famed for.
Female nightjar lay their eggs on the ground where the nesting mother and chicks are perfectly camouflaged. But like other ground nesting birds, this puts nightjar at risk from predators and human disturbance. The chicks hatch within around three weeks and will fledge (leave the nest) by the end of the summer, ready for the autumn migration.
Unravelling the mysteries of Nightjar migration
Migratory pathways, stopover zones and wintering destinations of Western European Nightjars
2017 | Evens, R., Conway, G. J., Henderson, I. G., Creswell, B., Jiguet, F., Moussy, C., Sénécal, D., Witters, N., Beenaerts, N. & Artois, T.Ibis
New research involving the BTO has revealed important information about the migration routes and wintering grounds of the Nightjar for the first time. Their main wintering area is now known to be located in the Savannah and scrub forests, to the south of the central African tropical Rainforests, mainly in the southern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while key differences were also found between birds' spring and autumn migration route