Nubian Nightjar

About the Nubian Nightjar

The Nubian nightjar (Caprimulgus nubicus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in salt marshes of Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The Nubian nightjar is 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) long. It is a nocturnal species, known for its large eyes and beak, which help it hunt at night. The bird resembles the Moorish nightjar, but is smaller, has a shorter tail and blunt wings compared to the Moorish nightjar. Another characteristic feature is a red-brown band over the neck. The white wing spots are not further away from the wing tips than other types of nightjars.

Like other nightjars, the Nubian nightjar nests on the ground. Its nests are clustered in small groups of 1 to 3. It is hypothesized to prefer to nest near agricultural areas for greater access to food. Kirwan, Guy M. (2004). "Some remarks on the taxonomy of Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus, with particular reference to C. n. jonesi Ogilvie-Grant & Forbes, 1899" (PDF). Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 11 (2): 117–125. doi:10.5962/p.309720. Retrieved 20 August 2010. Wikipedia →