European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) [XC572211]
by Alain Malengreau from Bernissart, Hainaut, Wallonie, Belgium (flight call, song, wing snapping)
European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) [XC745401]
by Michel Veldt from Bleekersvallei (near De Koog), Texel, Noord-Holland, France (duet, song)
Nest
Shallow scrape on the ground, unlined.
Eggs (Guide)
2; glossy; cream, spotted and blotched with yellow or dark brown. Incubation: about 18 days.
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Sombre Nightjar (Caprimulgus fraenatus) and Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena). Sometimes reckoned to be replaced to east by Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus). Much of geographical variation is clinal.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
europaeus Linnaeus, 1758 - Northern and central Europe east through north-central Asia (mainly south of c. 60° north) to L Baikal region.
meridionalis Hartert, 1896 - North-western Africa and Iberia east through southern Europe, Crimea, Caucasus and Ukraine to north-western Iran and Caspian Sea.
sarudnyi Hartert, 1912 - Kazakhstan, from Caspian Sea east to Kyrgyzstan, Tarbagatai and Altai.
unwini Hume, 1871 - Iraq and Iran east to western Tien Shan and Kasthigaria, north to southern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
plumipes Przewalski, 1876 - North-western China and western and north-western Mongolia.
dementievi Stegmann, 1949 - North-eastern Mongolia and southern Transbaikalia.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet