Nubian Nightjar

Caprimulgus nubicus

Nightjars and Nighthawks · Caprimulgiformes · Legendary

The Nubian Nightjar (Caprimulgus nubicus) is a legendary nightjars and nighthawk found in 9 countries, weighing about 49 g. The Nubian nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.

Least ConcernLegendaryEats invertebratesshrublandscrape nest49 g

About the Nubian Nightjar

The Nubian nightjar 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.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

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.

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Israel, Somalia, Oman.

When to see it

Best months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Nubian Nightjar?
The Nubian nightjar is 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Nubian Nightjar?
The Nubian Nightjar is a small sized bird weighing about 49 g.
Where can you see a Nubian Nightjar?
The Nubian Nightjar occurs in 9 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Jordan, Yemen and Djibouti.
What birds look similar to a Nubian Nightjar?
The Nubian Nightjar is most easily confused with the Golden Nightjar, the Palau Nightjar and the Bates's Nightjar.
Is the Nubian Nightjar endangered?
The Nubian Nightjar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Nubian Nightjar for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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