Plain Nightjar

Caprimulgus inornatus

Nightjars and Nighthawks · Caprimulgiformes · Rare

The Plain Nightjar (Caprimulgus inornatus) is a rare nightjars and nighthawk found in 25 countries, weighing about 50 g. The plain nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebratesgrasslandscrape nest50 g

About the Plain Nightjar

The plain nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It breeds in the southern Sahel, Southern Sudan, the Horn of Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. It migrates to lower latitudes - including central Congo and northern Tanzania. A rather plain looking nightjar with grey-brown, brown, and rufous morphs. Males have white spots on primaries, large white corners to tail, and no white on the throat. Females have buffy-brown wing spots, and no white on the tail.

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

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Algeria, Eritrea, Mauritania.

When to see it

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

Easily confused with

Quick questions

What does a Plain Nightjar look like?
The plain nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.
How big is a Plain Nightjar?
The Plain Nightjar is a small sized bird weighing about 50 g.
Where can you see a Plain Nightjar?
The Plain Nightjar occurs in 25 countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Saudi Arabia.
What birds look similar to a Plain Nightjar?
The Plain Nightjar is most easily confused with the Andaman Nightjar, the Donaldson Smith's Nightjar and the Sykes's Nightjar.
Is the Plain Nightjar endangered?
The Plain Nightjar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Plain 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.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.