nightjars

Nightjars are a group of birds belonging to the family Caprimulgidae within the order Caprimulgiformes. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular insectivores and are found worldwide except in the most extreme polar regions and some remote oceanic islands. The group comprises roughly 97 species, including the true nightjars and related forms sometimes called nighthawks in the Americas.

Physically, nightjars are medium-sized birds with long wings, a short neck, and a broad, cryptically patterned plumage of browns, grays, and blacks. They have large eyes adapted to low light, a wide mouth with rictal bristles to sense insects, and a comparatively small bill. Many species display a conspicuous white wing patch in flight.

Behavior and ecology: Nightjars hunt by catching insects on the wing, typically via low, rapid, and sometimes undulating flight. They are generally quiet during the day, roosting on branches or on the ground among leaf litter, relying on camouflage. They breed in warm months, building no proper nest but a shallow scrape. Most species lay two eggs that are incubated by both parents; some lay a single egg. Chicks are precocial and leave the scrape soon after hatching.

Distribution and conservation: Nightjars occupy a range of habitats, from woodlands and savannas to tropical forests, with several temperate species undertaking long migrations. Conservation status varies by species; many are of least concern, but others face threats from habitat loss, pesticide exposure, predation, vehicle collisions, and light pollution.