Photo: Shyamal / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Jungle Nightjar
Caprimulgus indicus
Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) — Nightjars & Allies of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 91.6 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 Caprimulgus
- Species indicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 91.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Jungle Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Jungle Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India and Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 91.6 g, with a wing length of about 18.2 cm and a tail of around 11.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Jungle Nightjar?
The Jungle Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 91.6 g.
Where does the Jungle Nightjar live?
The Jungle Nightjar is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India and Sri Lanka, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Jungle Nightjar belong to?
The Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Jungle Nightjar eat?
The Jungle Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Jungle Nightjar migrate?
The Jungle Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Jungle 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 Jungle Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Jungle 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 Jungle Nightjar's range?
The Jungle Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million 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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