Photo: T. R. Shankar Raman / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Jerdon’s Nightjar
Caprimulgus atripennis
Jerdon's Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) — 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 Jerdon’s Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 61 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 atripennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Jerdon’s Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR s, e India and Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 13.2 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 488,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Jerdon’s Nightjar?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61 g.
Where does the Jerdon’s Nightjar live?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR s, e India and Sri Lanka, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Jerdon’s Nightjar belong to?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Jerdon’s Nightjar eat?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Jerdon’s Nightjar migrate?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Jerdon’s 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 Jerdon’s Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Jerdon’s Nightjar — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Jerdon’s Nightjar's range?
The Jerdon’s Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 488,000 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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