Photo: Andrew Smith / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar
Caprimulgus rufigena
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena) — Nightjars & Allies of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa. 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 Caprimulgus
- Species rufigena
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena) is a species of bird in the Caprimulgidae family, part of the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52 g, with a wing length of about 16.1 cm and a tail of around 11.4 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 3.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52 g.
Where does the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar live?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar belong to?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar eat?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar migrate?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Rufous-cheeked 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 Rufous-cheeked Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-cheeked 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 Rufous-cheeked Nightjar's range?
The Rufous-cheeked Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 3.1 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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