Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-winged Nightjar
Eleothreptus candicans
White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) — Nightjars & Allies of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) is a member of the Caprimulgidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 49.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Caprimulgiformes
- Family Caprimulgidae Nightjars
- Genus Eleothreptus
- Species candicans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Caprimulgidae
- Order
- Caprimulgiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-winged Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-winged Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family of the order Caprimulgiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Bolivia and sc Brazil and e Paraguay.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49.3 g, with a wing length of about 15.1 cm and a tail of around 10.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6,633 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-winged Nightjar?
The White-winged Nightjar is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49.3 g.
Where does the White-winged Nightjar live?
The White-winged Nightjar is found across South America with a range covering SA n Bolivia and sc Brazil and e Paraguay, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-winged Nightjar belong to?
The White-winged Nightjar (Eleothreptus candicans) belongs to the Caprimulgidae family, in the order Caprimulgiformes.
What does the White-winged Nightjar eat?
The White-winged Nightjar is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-winged Nightjar migrate?
The White-winged Nightjar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-winged Nightjar endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the White-winged Nightjar make?
1 real field recording of the White-winged 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 White-winged Nightjar's range?
The White-winged Nightjar has a mapped global range of about 6,633 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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