Photo: Samuel Lopez Ligero / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-necked Nightjar
Caprimulgus ruficollis
Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) — Nightjars & Allies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 68.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Caprimulgus
- Species ruficollis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 68.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-necked Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Red-necked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF Iberian Pen. to nw AF.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 68.5 g, with a wing length of about 19.8 cm and a tail of around 14.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 791,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-necked Nightjar?
The Red-necked Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 68.5 g.
Where does the Red-necked Nightjar live?
The Red-necked Nightjar is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF Iberian Pen. to nw AF, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-necked Nightjar belong to?
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Red-necked Nightjar eat?
The Red-necked Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-necked Nightjar migrate?
The Red-necked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-necked Nightjar endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Red-necked Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Red-necked 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 Red-necked Nightjar's range?
The Red-necked Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 791,000 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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