European Nightjar

Due to its habitat and its crepuscular and nocturnal activity, the European Nightjar is not at all easy to observe. Most of the time, it is a silhouette moving against the pale background of a setting sun sky that you can have the chance to observe. To be able to detail the bird, you either have to be lucky enough to find it during the day perched motionless on its day perch, but this chance is very slim, or capture it with the net in view of the ringing and have it in hand. At first glance, one is struck by its dead leaves and bark colour plumage, striped and barred, a bit like a night raptor, which ensures it effective camouflage when it is perched on the ground or on a branch. Rather than a long and confusing description, it is better to have a photo of the bird, for example this one: /photos /frederic.pelsy/engoulevent.d.europe.3.html#espece to judge its cryptic plumage. The large eye is typical of a night hunter. On the other hand, the beak is very small, which means that it has only a secondary role. The major role is played by the very large opening of the buccal cavity which is able to swallow insects in flight. Finally, the very small legs are those of a high-flying hunter, which is not suitable for walking. There is a visible sexual dimorphism in flight. The male shows white spots at the end of its wings and at the corners of its tail, marks which the female does not have. In flight, its silhouette resembles a giant swallow rather than a large swallow, although it is systematically closer to the latter.