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European nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)Common

Photo: P.Taszynski · CC BY-SA 3.0

Birdinsectivore

The European Nightjar is a secretive bird that thrives in twilight and darkness. It breeds across Europe and parts of Asia, then migrates to Africa for the winter. Its mottled grey and brown feathers make it nearly invisible during the day.

  • Males display white patches on their wings and tail during flight.
  • They rest motionless on the ground or branches during daylight.
  • Their Latin name stems from a myth about them milking goats.
ForestGrasslandEuropeAsiaAfrica
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At a glance

Classification
Bird
Scientific name
Caprimulgus europaeus
Habitat
Forest, Grassland
Regions in this directory
Europe, Asia, Africa
Diet
insectivore
Relative size
small
IUCN Red List
Least Concern (LC)
Look up the latest IUCN assessment

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