Photo: Badjoby / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Nightjar
Caprimulgus asiaticus
Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) — Nightjars & Allies of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 42 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 asiaticus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42 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 Indian 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 Indian Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) is a species of bird in the Caprimulgidae family, part of the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR se Pakistan to se Asia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42 g, with a wing length of about 14.7 cm and a tail of around 10.3 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 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Nightjar?
The Indian Nightjar is a small bird that weighs around 42 g.
Where does the Indian Nightjar live?
The Indian Nightjar is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR se Pakistan to se Asia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Indian Nightjar belong to?
The Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Indian Nightjar eat?
The Indian Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Indian Nightjar migrate?
The Indian Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian 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 Indian Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Indian 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 Indian Nightjar's range?
The Indian Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 4 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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