Photo: Allan Drewitt / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Montane Nightjar
Caprimulgus poliocephalus
Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) — Nightjars & Allies of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 41.8 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 poliocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Montane Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Montane Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) is a species of bird in the Caprimulgidae family, part of the order Caprimulgiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia to Zambia and c Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41.8 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 11 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 807,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Montane Nightjar?
The Montane Nightjar is a small bird that weighs around 41.8 g.
Where does the Montane Nightjar live?
The Montane Nightjar is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia to Zambia and c Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Montane Nightjar belong to?
The Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Montane Nightjar eat?
The Montane Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Montane Nightjar migrate?
The Montane Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Montane 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 Montane Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Montane 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 Montane Nightjar's range?
The Montane Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 807,000 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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