Photo: Morhaf kamal aljanee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Egyptian Nightjar
Caprimulgus aegyptius
Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) — 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 Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 77.3 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 aegyptius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 77.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Egyptian Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Egyptian Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF nw AF to sc Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.3 g, with a wing length of about 20.1 cm and a tail of around 11.9 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 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Egyptian Nightjar?
The Egyptian Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.3 g.
Where does the Egyptian Nightjar live?
The Egyptian Nightjar is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF nw AF to sc Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Egyptian Nightjar belong to?
The Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Egyptian Nightjar eat?
The Egyptian Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Egyptian Nightjar migrate?
The Egyptian Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Egyptian 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 Egyptian Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Egyptian Nightjar — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Egyptian Nightjar's range?
The Egyptian Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 2.8 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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