Photo: Nigel Voaden from UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Caprimulgus vexillarius
Pennant-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius) — 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 Pennant-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 72.2 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 vexillarius
Where it lives
Angola, southern DR Congo and southwestern Tanzania south to Namibia, Botswana and eastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 72.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pennant-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius) is a species of bird in the Caprimulgidae family, part of the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Angola, s DR Congo and sw Tanzania s to Namibia, Botswana and e South Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 72.2 g, with a wing length of about 20.7 cm and a tail of around 12.7 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 3.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pennant-winged Nightjar?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 72.2 g.
Where does the Pennant-winged Nightjar live?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is found across Africa with a range covering AF Angola, s DR Congo and sw Tanzania s to Namibia, Botswana and e South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Pennant-winged Nightjar belong to?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Pennant-winged Nightjar eat?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pennant-winged Nightjar migrate?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pennant-winged 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 Pennant-winged Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Pennant-winged 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 Pennant-winged Nightjar's range?
The Pennant-winged Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 3.4 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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