Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Swamp Nightjar
Caprimulgus natalensis
Swamp Nightjar (Caprimulgus natalensis) — Nightjars & Allies of Africa.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Swamp Nightjar (Caprimulgus natalensis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 77.7 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 natalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 77.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Swamp 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 Swamp Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Swamp Nightjar (Caprimulgus natalensis) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.7 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 10.4 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 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Swamp Nightjar?
The Swamp Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.7 g.
Where does the Swamp Nightjar live?
The Swamp Nightjar is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Swamp Nightjar belong to?
The Swamp Nightjar (Caprimulgus natalensis) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Swamp Nightjar eat?
The Swamp Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Swamp Nightjar migrate?
The Swamp Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Swamp 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 Swamp Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Swamp 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 Swamp Nightjar's range?
The Swamp Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 2.2 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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