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Red-necked Nightjar
(Caprimulgus ruficollis)
German name(s): "Rothals-Ziegenmelker"
Size: 30-34 cm; wing span 60-65 cm
Weight: 70-100 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Red-necked Nightjars are the largest European nightjars.
They have the typical mid-grey, slightly reflective and highly
cryptic
plumage of
all nightjars, with dark-grey streaks and light silvery-grey
patches. The distinguishing feature of Red-necked Nightjars is
their rufous-coloured neck. Also the front and the underwings
are pale-rufous, with intricate fine darker barring.
On the upperwings they have several spotted creamy to buff wing
covert bars, none of which is brighter than the others. In
flight the upperwings show rufous-barred remiges.
The irises are dark. The very short, swallow-like bill is
grey. Legs and feet are also grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Red-necked
Nightjar at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Red-necked Nightjar is available
HERE
.
Red-necked Nightjars are a migratory species of which there are
two extant races, both of which overwinter in tropical West
Africa.
While nominate race
"ruficollis"
breeds in Iberia, race "desertorum" breeds in near-coastal
north-western Africa (in and around the Atlas mountain range).
In Europe Red-necked Nightjars are found as breeding migrants
only on the Iberian peninsula and the Balearic islands.
Red-necked Nightjars have a preference for stone-pine forest
or sandy heath with tree clumps.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "ruficollis"
J. Pires reports spotting a Red-necked
Nightjar, nominate race
"ruficollis", in Mora, Evora, Portugal, repeatedly in the
timeframe June/July 2019. Another was found in August 2020.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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Race "ruficollis"
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ADULT |
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Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2020]
Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a Red-necked Nightjar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Red-necked Nightjar; note the characteristic
rufous neck
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.