Birds · Caprimulgiformes · Caprimulgidae

Red-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus ruficollis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The largest representative of the genus Caprimulgus in Europe. Its plumage is among the most cryptic in the bird world: a mottled mixture of grey, rufous and brown with dense black streaking on the scapulars and crown. Its diagnostic feature is the golden-brown collar that encircles the whole neck, more visible below the nape than on the throat. It has very prominent tactile bristles between the bill and the eyes.

Weight

80 g – 100 g

Size

29 cm – 31 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

The world population is estimated at between 130,000 and 1,500,000 individuals, with 25-49% in Europe. Portugal holds around 3% of the European population (1,000-10,000 pairs)

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest Grassland

4countries 34parks3same family

Fun facts

GeneralIt settles on the ground or lengthways along a branch, and its plumage makes it all but invisible.
The Iberian Peninsula is the only place in Europe where it breeds.
Its main non-natural cause of death is being run over: it settles on tarmac and gravel tracks because they hold the heat, which saves it energy in thermoregulation but leaves it exposed to cars.
It is especially vulnerable in May, on arrival from Africa, when the accidents are concentrated.
It is the largest Caprimulgus in Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula is the only place on the continent where it breeds. According to the Noctua scheme, its Spanish population fell by 38.6 % between 2006 and 2018, which is why the 2021 Red Book of the Birds of Spain classifies it as Vulnerable.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Pine woods, dehesa and scrub with sandy clearings
Gestation / incubation: 14-19 days of incubation: the female incubates by day and both sexes take turns at night
Litter / clutch size: Usually 2 eggs, occasionally just one, laid directly on bare ground or leaf litter

Sources consulted: IUCN Red List; SEO/BirdLife (ficha, III Atlas y Lista Oficial de las Aves de España 2012); Sáez y Camacho 2016, Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles (MNCN-CSIC); Zoobotánico de Jerez (proyecto de investigación, C.R.A.S.); Alonso et al. 2003; Cleere et al. 2013; Temminck 1820