European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Scarce & local Summer migrants with 460 breeding pairs in Britain in dry habitats from April-September.

Declining Summer Visitor May-September & mainly nocturnal.

Winters in tropical & Southern Africa.

Adults are greyish-brown upperparts with dark streaking, a pale buff hindneck collar and a white moustachial line.

The closed wing is grey with buff spotting, and the underparts are greyish-brown, with brown barring and buff spots.

The bill is blackish, the iris is dark brown and the legs and feet are brown.

In flight, the Males has a white wing patch across three primary feathers and white tips to the two outer tail feathers, whereas Females do not show any white.

Males have a churring song.