European Nightjar
Photo: Dûrzan cîrano · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nightjars and Nighthawks

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

LCLeast Concern
Family
Nightjars and Nighthawks (Caprimulgidae)
Order
Caprimulgiformes

Overview

The European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), common goatsucker, Eurasian nightjar or just nightjar is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird in the nightjar family that breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic to Mongolia and Northwestern China. The Latin generic name refers to the old myth that the nocturnal nightjar suckled from goats, causing them to cease to give milk. The six subspecies differ clinally, the birds becoming smaller and paler towards the east of the range. All populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.