Caprimulgidae - Nightjars
 The Caprimulgidae family includes 92 species of birds. Nightjars are medium-sized birds with short legs, small feet, long wings, and short bills. They are nocturnal and eat insects.
Some species in this family perch along the length of a tree branch in the same way cats stretch out on a branch. This helps conceal them from predators when they are sleeping during the day.
Nightjars are very hard to spot because their plumage looks like tree bark and leaf litter!
Nightjars are also known as goatsuckers. It was once thought that they used their wide mouths to milk goats. In fact, the word for goat-milker in Latin is Caprimulgus.
Nightjars are found all over the world. The whip-poor-will and the common nighthawk are two species found in New Hampshire.
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in the Wild  Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.
US Status Key
 Threatened in US  Threatened in NH  Endangered in US  Endangered in NH  Breeds in NH  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game
Additional Information
Key:  Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Antillean Nighthawk - Chordeiles gundlachii 
The Antillean nighthawk is found in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean.
Source: National Audubon Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Band-tailed Nighthawk - Nyctiprogne leucopyga 
The band-tailed nighthawk is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Band-winged Nightjar - Caprimulgus longirostris
The band-winged nightjar is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-shouldered Nightjar -Caprimulgus nigriscapularis 
The black-shouldered nightjar is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Blackish Nightjar - Caprimulgus nigrescens
The blackish nightjar is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Buff-collared Nightjar - Caprimulgus ridgwayi
The buff-collared nightjar is found in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the United States.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Chuck-will's-widow - Caprimulgus carolinensis
In the U.S., Chuck-will's-widow is found from Long Island, New York south to Florida and west to Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas. It is also found in Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Chuck-will's-widow - Caprimulgus carolinensis
Chuck-will's-widows are found in open woodlands.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Collared Nightjar - Caprimulgus enarratus
The collared nightjar is found in Madagascar.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor 
Common nighthawks breed throughout much of North America and parts of Central America. They are year-round residents in the Caribbean and winter in South America.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor
Common nighthawks are known as bulbats in some areas.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor
Common nighthawks are most active at dusk and dawn.
Source: Seattle Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis
The common pauraque is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Common Poorwill - Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Common poorwills are found in western North America from south central British Columbia and southwestern Saskatchewan to central Mexico.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Poorwill - Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Common poorwills are found in dry, open areas.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Poorwill - Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Common poorwills hibernate in the winter.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cuban Nightjar - Caprimulgus cubanensis
The Cuban nightjar is found in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Donaldson-smith's Nightjar - Caprimulgus donaldsoni
Donaldson-smith's nightjars are found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Egyptian Nightjar - Caprimulgus aegyptius 
The Egyptian nightjar is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Egyptian Nightjar - Caprimulgus aegyptius
The Egyptian nightjar is found in desert habitats.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Eurasian Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus 
The Eurasian nightjar is found across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Eurasian Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus
Male European nightjars select nesting sites.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Eurasian Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus
When he is trying to attract a mate, the male Eurasian nightjar glides clapshis wings together.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Fiery-necked Nightjar - Caprimulgus pectoralis
The fiery-necked nightjar is found in Angola. Botswana. Congo, Gabon. Kenya. Malawi. Mozambique. Namibia. South Africa. Swaziland. Tanzania, United Republic of. Zambia. and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Freckled Nightjar - Caprimulgus tristigma
The freckled nightjar is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, , Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Gray Nightjar - Caprimulgus indicus 
The gray nightjar is also known as the jungle nightjar. It is found in
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Eared-nightjar - Eurostopodus macrotis
The great-eared nightjar is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laosc, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Indian Nightjar - Caprimulgus asiaticus
The Indian nightjar is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Jerdon's Nightjar - Caprimulgus atripennis
The Jerdon's nightjar is found in India and Sri Lanka.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Ladder-tailed Nightjar - Hydropsalis climacocerca
The ladder-tailed nightjar is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Large-tailed nightjar - Caprimulgus macrurus
The large-tailed nightjar is found in Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei , Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Lesser Nighthawk - Chordeiles acutipennis
In the U.S., the lesser nighthawk is found in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Nightjar - Caprimulgus parvulus
The little nightjar is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Long-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus climacurus
The long-tailed nightjar is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lyre-tailed Nightjar - Uropsalis lyra
The Lyre-tailed Nightjar is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Madagascar Nightjar - Caprimulgus madagascariensis
The Madagascar nightjar is found in Madagascar and Seychelles.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Nacunda Nighthawk - Podager nacunda
The Nacunda Nighthawk is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Nubian Nightjar - Caprimulgus nubicus
The nubian nightjar is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Ocellated Poorwill - Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
The ocellated poorwill is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Pennant-winged Nightjar - Macrodipteryx vexillarius
The Pennant-winged nightjar is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Philippine Nightjar - Caprimulgus manillensis
The Philippine nightjar is found in the Philippines.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Puerto Rican Nightjar - Caprimulgus noctitherus
The Puerto Rican nightjar is only found in Puerto Rico.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Puerto Rican Nightjar - Caprimulgus noctitherus
The Puerto Rican nightjar is found in coastal scrub forests.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pygmy Nightjar - Caprimulgus hirundinaceus
The Pygmy nightjar is found in Brazil.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Red-necked Nightjar - Caprimulgus ruficollis
The red-necked nightjar is found in Algeria, Gibraltar, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Rufous Nightjar - Caprimulgus rufus
Rufous nightjars are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Scissor-tailed Nightjar - Hydropsalis torquata
Scissor-tailed nightjars are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Short-tailed Nighthawk - Lurocalis semitorquatus
Short-tailed nighthawks are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Sickle-winged Nightjar - Eleothreptus anomalus
Sickle-winged nightjars are found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Slender-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus clarus
Slender-tailed nightjars are found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Sombre Nightjar - Caprimulgus fraenatus
Sombre nightjars are found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Spot-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus maculicaudus
Spot-tailed nightjars are found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spotted Eared-nightjar - Eurostopodus argus
Spot-tailed nightjars are found in Australia and Indonesia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Square-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus fossii
The square-tailed nightjar is also known as the Mozambique nightjar. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Standard-winged Nightjar - Macrodipteryx longipennis
The standard-winged nightjar is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Sulawesi Nightjar - Caprimulgus celebensis
The Sulawesi nightjar is found in Indonesia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sulawesi Eared-nightjar - Eurostopodus diabolicus
Sulawesi-eared nightjars are found in Indonesia. They aare also known as Heinrich's nightjar.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sunda Nightjar - Caprimulgus concretus
The Sunda nightjar is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swallow-tailed Nightjar - Uropsalis segmentata
The swallow-tailed nightjar is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swamp Nightjar - Caprimulgus natalensis
Swamp nightjars are found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, , Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Sykes's Nightjar - Caprimulgus mahrattensis
Syke's nightjar is found in Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sykes's Nightjar - Caprimulgus mahrattensis
Like all nightjars, the Sykes's nightjar's cryptc coloration helps it blend in with its environment.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Whip-poor-will - Antrostomus vociferus
The whip-poor-will is found from central and southeast Canada south to parts of southern Mexico.
It is absent from much of the western U.S.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Whip-poor-will - Antrostomus vociferus
Whip-poor-wills fly slowly and noiselessly.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Whip-poor-will - Antrostomus vociferus
The whip-poor-will lays its eggs in phase with the lunar cycle, so that the eggs hatch around 10 days before the full moon.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School White-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus cayennensis
The white-winged nightjars are found in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-throated Eared-nightjar - Eurostopodus mystacalis
The white-throated nightjars are found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-winged Nightjar - Eleothreptus candicans
The white-winged nightjar is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-winged Nightjar - Eleothreptus candicans
The white-winged nightjar is known to be in only four locations.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-winged Nightjar - Eleothreptus candicans
The white-winged nightjar is a striking, ghostly nightjar.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Yucatan Nightjar - Caprimulgus badius
The yucatan nightjar is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |
