Photo: Samuel Lopez Ligero / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-necked Nightjar
Caprimulgus ruficollis
Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) — Nightjars & Allies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 68.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Caprimulgus
- Species ruficollis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 68.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-necked 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 Red-necked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF Iberian Pen. to nw AF.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 68.5 g, with a wing length of about 19.8 cm and a tail of around 14.8 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 791,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-necked Nightjar?
The Red-necked Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 68.5 g.
Where does the Red-necked Nightjar live?
The Red-necked Nightjar is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF Iberian Pen. to nw AF, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-necked Nightjar belong to?
The Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Red-necked Nightjar eat?
The Red-necked Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-necked Nightjar migrate?
The Red-necked Nightjar is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-necked 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.
What sound does the Red-necked Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Red-necked 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 Red-necked Nightjar's range?
The Red-necked Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 791,000 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 Caprimulgidae
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Nightjars & Allies
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern