Photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Aegotheles cristatus
Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) — Nightjars & Allies of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) is a member of the Aegothelidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 42.8 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 Aegotheliformes
- Family Aegothelidae Owlet-nightjars
- Genus Aegotheles
- Species cristatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Aegothelidae
- Order
- Aegotheliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Data Deficient
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) is a species of bird in the Aegothelidae family, part of the order Aegotheliformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sc, se New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.8 g, with a wing length of about 13.6 cm and a tail of around 12.1 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 7.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Owlet-nightjar?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is a small bird that weighs around 42.8 g.
Where does the Australian Owlet-nightjar live?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sc, se New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Australian Owlet-nightjar belong to?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) belongs to the Aegothelidae family, in the order Aegotheliformes.
What does the Australian Owlet-nightjar eat?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Australian Owlet-nightjar migrate?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian Owlet-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 Australian Owlet-nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Australian Owlet-nightjar — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australian Owlet-nightjar's range?
The Australian Owlet-nightjar has a mapped global range of about 7.7 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.
Explore more birds
More in Aegothelidae
Data Deficient
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Nightjars & Allies
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern