Skip to main content

Photo: Mark Paxton of Shamvura Camp, Namibia, who releases it under the licenses below. JMK 17:43, 12 April 2007 (UTC) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Near Threatened

Collared Nightjar

Gactornis enarratus

Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus) — Nightjars & Allies of Africa.

The Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 52.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Caprimulgiformes
  3. Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
  4. Genus Gactornis
  5. Species enarratus

Where it lives

Northwestern, eastern Madagascar

Quick facts

Weight
52.8 g
Family
Caprimulgidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Collared Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Collared Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus) is a species of bird in the Caprimulgidae family, part of the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, e Madagascar.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.8 g, with a wing length of about 14.8 cm and a tail of around 10.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 226,000 km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Collared Nightjar?

The Collared Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.8 g.

Where does the Collared Nightjar live?

The Collared Nightjar is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, e Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Collared Nightjar belong to?

The Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.

What does the Collared Nightjar eat?

The Collared Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Collared Nightjar migrate?

The Collared Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Collared Nightjar endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

How large is the Collared Nightjar's range?

The Collared Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 226,000 km².

Conservation

Near Threatened

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Caprimulgidae

More in Nightjars & Allies

Back to top