LC
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Perrins, C.M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Cramp, S.; Perrins, C. M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 33,200,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 19,500,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 3000000-5999999 mature individuals poor estimated 2012
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Generation length 5.6 years - - -

Population justification: The European population is estimated at 614,000-1,100,000 calling or lekking males, which equates to 1,230,000-2,200,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015). Europe forms c. 40% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 3,100,000-5,500,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. The population is therefore placed in the band 3,000,000-5,999,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, pesticide use reducing the availability of food, and disturbance (del Hoyo et al. 1999). In Europe the population is estimated to be stable (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Andorra extant native yes
Angola extant native
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahrain extant native yes
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Botswana extant native
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
Burundi extant native
Cameroon extant native
China (mainland) extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Côte d'Ivoire extant vagrant
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant native
Egypt extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant native yes
Eswatini extant native
Ethiopia extant native
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant vagrant
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Gabon extant native
Gambia extant native
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Ghana extant vagrant
Gibraltar (to UK) extant native
Greece extant native yes yes
Hungary extant native yes
Iceland extant vagrant
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native yes
Italy extant native yes yes
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kuwait extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant native yes
Lebanon extant native yes
Lesotho extant native
Liberia extant vagrant
Libya extant native
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Lithuania extant native yes
Luxembourg extant native yes
Malawi extant native
Mali extant vagrant
Malta extant native
Mauritania extant native
Moldova extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant native
Mozambique extant native
Namibia extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
Niger extant native
Nigeria extant native
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes
Oman extant native yes
Pakistan extant native yes
Palestine extant native yes
Poland extant native yes
Portugal extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes
Rwanda extant native
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Senegal extant vagrant
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant vagrant
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native
South Africa extant native
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant native yes
Sudan extant native
Sweden extant native yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Tajikistan extant native yes
Tanzania extant native
Tunisia extant native
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Uganda extant native
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Western Sahara extant native
Yemen extant native yes
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Austria Central Marchfeld
Austria Lower Kamp valley
Austria Lower valley of the Gail
Austria North-eastern Leithagebirge
Austria Steinfeld
Austria Thermenlinie
Austria Villacher Alpe-Dobratsch
Belarus Polesye valley of river Buh
Belgium Gebieden gelegen te Peer en Hechtel-Eksel
Belgium Gebieden ten noorden van Turnhout en Ravels
Belgium Kalmthoutse Heide
Belgium Sinémurienne
Belgium Vallei van de Zwarte Beek
Bulgaria Byala Reka
Bulgaria Central Balkan
Bulgaria Dobrostan
Bulgaria Kamchiyska Mountain
Bulgaria Ludogorie
Bulgaria Provadiysko-Royaksko plateau
Bulgaria Rila
Bulgaria Western Balkan
Bulgaria Western Rhodopes
China (mainland) Pishan Oasis
Croatia Krka and Surrounding Plateau
Croatia Kvarner Islands
Croatia Middle Dalmatian Islands and Peljesac Penninsula
Cyprus Adelphoi Forest - Papoutsa
Cyprus Akamas and Agia Aikaterini – Agia Paraskevi Gorges
Cyprus Kormakitis Peninsula
Cyprus Mahairas Forest - Tzionia
Cyprus Pafos Forest
Czechia Bzenecka Doubrava-Straznicke Pomoravi
Czechia Ceskolipsko - Dokeské pískovce sandstones and wetlands
Czechia Doupov hills
Czechia Trebonsko (Trebon region)
Estonia Luitemaa
Estonia Nõva-Osmussaar
Estonia Põhja-Liivimaa
Estonia Soomaa
Estonia Taarikõnnu-Kaisma
Finland Nuuksio
France Arjuzanx
France Barois et Forêt de Clairvaux
France Basses Corbières
France Brenne centrale
France Brenne: Forêt de Lancosme
France Chaîne des Alpilles
France Côte Médocaine: dunes boisées et dépressions humides
France Estuaire de la Canche
France Estuaires picards : baies de Somme et d'Authie
France Etangs de Sologne: St Viatre, Marcilly-en-Gault et forêt de Bruadan
France Forêt d'Orléans: massifs d'Ingrannes et de Lorris
France Forêt de Haguenau
France Forêts du Perche
France Forêts picardes : massif des Trois Forêts et bois du Roi
France Gorges de la Dourbie et causses avoisinants
France Haut Val d'Allier
France Hautes Corbières
France Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais
France Le Pinail, Forêt de Moulière et bois du Défens
France Les Couzes Nord
France Marais et forêt d'Olonne
France Massif du Canigou-Carança
France Massif du Petit Lubéron
France Massifs de Fontainebleau et zones humides adjacentes
France Montagne de la Clape
France Montagne Sainte-Victoire
France Parc National de la Vanoise
France Parc National des Ecrins
France Plateau Ardennais
France Plateaux de Millevaches et de Gentioux
France Vallée de l'Aube, de la Superbe et Marigny
France Vallée de la Durance : de Tallard à Sisteron
France Vallée de la Loire : gorges de la Loire
France Vallée du Régino
France Vallées de la Scarpe et de l'Escaut
Germany Aisch-Regnitz-Grund
Germany Altengrabower Heide
Germany Annaburger Heide
Germany Bienwald and Viehstrichwiesen
Germany Colblitz-Letzlinger Heide
Germany Danube valley between Neuburg and Ingolstadt
Germany Davert
Germany Diepholzer Moorniederung and Siedener Moor
Germany Dune and aeolian sand area Dudenhofen, Babenhausen, Seligenstadt
Germany Eastern shore of Lake Müritz, Grosser Schwerin and Steinhorn
Germany Engdener Wüste
Germany Glücksburger Heide
Germany Gohrischheide
Germany Griese Gegend
Germany Haardtrand
Germany Hauberge near Haiger
Germany Heathlands and Forests in Tauberland
Germany Heathlands of Lieberose-Staakow-Reicherskreuz
Germany Heubachniederung/ Schwarzes Venn/ Borkenberge/ Halterner Seen
Germany Lorsch forest and Vierheim heathland
Germany Lower Elbe valley
Germany Lüneburger Heide
Germany Manteler Forst
Germany Middle Elbe valley with Steckby-Lödderitz forest
Germany Military training area Bergen-Hohne
Germany Military training area east and west of Jüterbog
Germany Mittleres Wietingsmoor
Germany Northern Karlsruhe Hardt
Germany Nürnberger Reichswald
Germany Offenbacher Wald, Bellheimer Wald and Queichwiesen
Germany Ponds and Elbe valley near Torgau
Germany Pressel wooded heath and mire
Germany Retzower Heide
Germany Rhön Biosphere Reserve
Germany Schorfheide-Chorin
Germany Schwalm-Nette-Platte and Grenzwald
Germany Schwetzinger and Hockenheimer Hardt
Germany Sennelager training area
Germany Speyerer Wald, Nonnenwald and Bachauen between Geinsheim and Hanhofen
Germany Uckermark lake region
Germany Ueckermünder Heide
Germany Vorderer Steigerwald - Windsheimer Bucht - Steigerwald-Vorland
Germany Wahner Heide
Germany Wurzacher Ried
Italy Albegna river valley
Italy Arezzo heathlands
Italy Carso
Italy Gran Sasso and Laga mountains
Italy Maiella, Pizzi and Frentani mountains
Italy Mount Grappa
Italy Piave river
Italy River Po: from Ticino mouth to Boscone island
Italy Sibillini mountains
Italy Ticino river
Italy Tuscan Archipelago
Latvia Kemeri national park
Latvia Slitere and Zilie kalni
Latvia Teici and Pelecare bogs
Lithuania Asveja Regional Park
Lithuania Dzukija National Park
Lithuania Initial area of Aukstaitija NP
Lithuania Labanoras Regional Park
Lithuania Simonys & Ramuldava forest complex
Netherlands Brabantse Wal
Netherlands Leenderbos, Groote Heide & De Plateaux
Netherlands Maasduinen
Netherlands Sallandse Heuvelrug
Netherlands Veluwe
Poland Augustów forest
Poland Biala Forest
Poland Bialowieza Forest
Poland Forest at Gwda River
Poland Janów forests
Poland Lower Silesia Forests
Poland Notec Forest
Poland Omulew and Plodownica Rivers Valleys
Poland Pisz forest
Poland Sandomierz Forest
Poland Solska Forest
Poland Tuchola Forest
Portugal Tejo estuary
Romania Aliman - Adamclisi
Romania Almăjului Mountains - Locvei
Romania Cursul Mijlociu al Someşului
Romania Dealurile Târnavelor - Valea Nirajului
Romania Defileul Inferior al Mureşului
Romania Domogled - Cernei valley
Romania Fizes valley
Romania Măcin - Niculiţel
Romania Nerei gorge - Beuşniţa
Romania Podişul Hârtibaciului
Russia (European) Kilemarski Reserve
Serbia Deliblatska pescara
Serbia Kucaj-Beljanica
Serbia Stara mountains
Serbia Subotica lakes and sandy terrain
Serbia Tupiznica and Beli Timok
Slovakia Bukovské hills
Slovakia Laborecká upland
Slovakia Nízke Tatry
Slovakia Slovenský karst
Slovakia Veľká Fatra
Slovenia Banjšice plateau
Slovenia Karst
Slovenia Snežnik plateau and Pivka valley
Slovenia Vipavski rob
Spain Mountains of Barcelona
Sweden Hanveden – Hemfosa
Sweden Tärnan – Riala
Ukraine Kremenets'kyj forest
Ukraine Samars'kyj forest
Ukraine Velyka Osokorovka
United Kingdom Ashdown Forest
United Kingdom Breckland
United Kingdom Cannock Chase
United Kingdom Dorset Heaths and Forests
United Kingdom East Devon Heaths
United Kingdom Exmoor Coast and Heaths
United Kingdom Haldon Forest
United Kingdom Laughton Forest
United Kingdom Minsmere - Walberswick
United Kingdom New Forest
United Kingdom North Yorkshire Moors
United Kingdom Poole Harbour
United Kingdom Sherwood Forest
United Kingdom Suffolk Sandlings
United Kingdom Thames Basin Heaths
United Kingdom Thorne and Hatfield Moors
United Kingdom Wealden Heaths

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable non-breeding
Forest Temperate suitable breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable non-breeding
Grassland Temperate suitable breeding
Shrubland Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breeding
Shrubland Temperate suitable breeding
Altitude 0 - 2800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/european-nightjar-caprimulgus-europaeus on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.