Freckled Nightjar

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Masai Mara National Reserve
25 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
599 Verified sightings across all 33 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the Freckled Nightjar

The freckled nightjar or freckled rock nightjar (Caprimulgus tristigma) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It has a wide yet patchy distribution throughout the Afrotropics. This species occurs throughout sub-Saharan African in localized populations. It is scarce in western Africa, occurring more commonly in the East. In the southern part of the continent, it is a year-round resident of the colder and drier areas, occurring most commonly in Zimbabwe, northern and eastern Botswana, western Mozambique, and eastern South Africa.

It has been found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The freckled nightjar is a large, powerfully-build species of nightjar with long wings and relatively short tails. They lack any prominent markings and appear dark gray or nearly black from a distance. At closer range, white, cinnamon... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Plain Nightjar
LC

Plain Nightjar

🌙 Nocturnal Bird

Caprimulgus inornatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Swamp Nightjar
LC

Swamp Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus natalensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Abyssinian Nightjar
LC

Abyssinian Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Square-tailed Nightjar
LC

Square-tailed Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus fossii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Sombre Nightjar
LC

Sombre Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pennant-winged Nightjar
LC

Pennant-winged Nightjar

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Slender-tailed Nightjar
LC

Slender-tailed Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus clarus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
European Nightjar
LC

European Nightjar

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Caprimulgus europaeus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
2 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
3 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
4 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
5 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
6 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
7 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
8 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
10 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
11 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
12 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
13 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
15 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
16 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
17 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
18 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
19 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
20 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
21 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
22 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
23 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
24 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Insufficient data
25 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
26 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
27 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
28 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
29 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
30 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
31 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
32 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
33 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Freckled Nightjar in Masai Mara National Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Freckled Nightjar sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 25 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Freckled Nightjar in Masai Mara National Reserve?

August has the highest sighting rate for Freckled Nightjar in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

← Back to Masai Mara National Reserve