Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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   Page updated:16-January-2013

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
BTO Codes: NJ, NIJAR EURING No: 7780
Number in Britain: 4600 males (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: RED
European: 2 Concern, most in Europe; Depleted
Global: (Details)
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Read  Bird of the Month Spotlight
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: europaeus recorded in Britain (of 6 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 27 cm Wingspan: 60 cm Weight: M/F: 83 g    
Scientific name from: L.: capra=goat + mulgere=to milk and after Europe
World Distribution: BREEDS: Europe, n&c Asia, nw Africa, WINTERS: tropical & s Africa
Habitat: Open country
Diet: Insects, esp. moths and beetles, taken from air following pursuit; nocturnal
TitBit: The notes that make up the nightjar's 'jar' or 'churr' are emitted at the rate of 30 or 40 per second.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: BirdTrends   
Regional Trends: No regional trends available
Distribution: Atlas Maps   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 3700 to 5500 males in 2004
    First Record: Recorded in Medieval times
    Latest Survey: Conway, G. et al. (2007) Bird Study 54: 98-111
    Conservation Status: RED because Recent Breeding Range Decline (1969-2007)
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 RED     1996-2001 RED  
   Races of Concern: europaeus RED (Recent Decline)
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Lead Partner: RSPB)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 370 to 700 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WBD(I), Bern(III)
Survey Results: Results from BirdTrack
Results from Nightjar Survey 2004

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 32 x 22 mm Egg Weight: 8.4 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 53   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 2 eggs 1.94 ± 0.25 (1 - 3) N = 461
Incubation: 18 days 18.12 ± 0.69 (17 - 19.5) N = 461   by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 18 - 19days 17.88 ± 1.10 (16 - 19.5) N = 695 as: Precocial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 23 Jun (23 May - 23 Jul)
Number of Broods: 1-2
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: Annual Totals
Adult Survival: 0.700 ± 0.050       
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 4 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 11 years 8 months 25 days (set in 2011)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries

Biometrics

Ring Size: C
Wing Length Adult: 195.9 ± 5.3     Range 179.0 - 214.0 mm, (N = 426)
Juvenile: 188.6 ± 7.4     Range 160.0 - 204.0 mm, (N = 304)
Male: 195.9 ± 5.1     Range 180.0 - 212.0 mm, (N = 323)
Female: 196.0 ± 6.0     Range 179.0 - 214.0 mm, (N = 100)
Weight Adult: 73.08 ± 7.45 Range 51.00 - 97.00 g , (N =363)
Juvenile: 70.8 ± 7.8 Range 43.3 - 101.0 . , (N =285)
Male: 71.52 ± 7.00 Range 53.00 - 97.00 g , (N =278)
Female: 77.98 ± 7.32 Range 51.00 - 96.50 g , (N =82)
Seasonal: Summer 71.64 ± 6.84 (N = 687)   Autumn 77.96 ± 7.47 (N = 203)  
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

European Nightjar
Gaelic: Seabhag-oidhche Welsh: Troellwr
Danish: Natravn Dutch: Nachtzwaluw
Finnish: Kehrääjä French: Engoulevent d´Europe
German: Ziegenmelker Hungarian: Lappantyú
Icelandic: Náttfari Irish: Tuirne Lín
Italian: Succiacapre Norwegian: Nattravn
Polish: Lelek zwyczajny Portuguese: Noitibó da Europa
Spanish: Chotacabras gris Swedish: Nattskärra
Local Names:Fern Owl

For More Information...

Books and Monographs:
   Holyoak, D.T. 2001 Nightjars and their allies Oxford University Press [598.72 HOL]
   Tate, P. 1989 The Nightjar Shire Publications, Princes Risborough [Jour: S]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead