Photo: Dario Sanches from SÃO PAULO, BRASIL / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Nightjar
Antrostomus rufus
Rufous Nightjar (Antrostomus rufus) — Nightjars & Allies of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Nightjar (Antrostomus rufus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 94.2 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 Antrostomus
- Species rufus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 94.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Rufous Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Nightjar (Antrostomus rufus) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family, within the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA widespread s from Costa Rica.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 94.2 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 11.6 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 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Nightjar?
The Rufous Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 94.2 g.
Where does the Rufous Nightjar live?
The Rufous Nightjar is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA widespread s from Costa Rica, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous Nightjar belong to?
The Rufous Nightjar (Antrostomus rufus) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the Rufous Nightjar eat?
The Rufous Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Nightjar migrate?
The Rufous Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous 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 Rufous Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous 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 Rufous Nightjar's range?
The Rufous Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 5.4 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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