Photo: Chloe and Trevor Van Loon / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dusky Nightjar
Antrostomus saturatus
Dusky Nightjar (Antrostomus saturatus) — Nightjars & Allies of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dusky Nightjar (Antrostomus saturatus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 52 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Antrostomus
- Species saturatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dusky Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Dusky Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dusky Nightjar (Antrostomus saturatus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA Costa Rica and w Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52 g, with a wing length of about 14.5 cm and a tail of around 10.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5,381 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dusky Nightjar?
The Dusky Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52 g.
Where does the Dusky Nightjar live?
The Dusky Nightjar is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA Costa Rica and w Panama, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dusky Nightjar belong to?
The Dusky Nightjar (Antrostomus saturatus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Dusky Nightjar eat?
The Dusky Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Dusky Nightjar migrate?
The Dusky Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dusky Nightjar endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Dusky Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Dusky Nightjar — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dusky Nightjar's range?
The Dusky Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 5,381 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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