Photo: P.Taszynski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
European Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) — Nightjars & Allies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 67 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 europaeus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 67 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The European Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The European Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 67 g, with a wing length of about 18.1 cm and a tail of around 12.8 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 19 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the European Nightjar?
The European Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 67 g.
Where does the European Nightjar live?
The European Nightjar is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w, c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the European Nightjar belong to?
The European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the European Nightjar eat?
The European Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the European Nightjar migrate?
The European Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the European 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 European Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the European 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 European Nightjar's range?
The European Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 19 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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