European Nightjar

nocturnal hunter · master of camouflage · Africa migrant · insect eater

Night hunter supreme. The European nightjar is awake and hunting when most birds sleep, catching insects on the wing during twilight and nighttime. Its name comes from an old myth that people thought it sucked milk from goats, which is totally false but stuck around for centuries.

Invisible in daylight. During the day, this bird's grey and brown patterned feathers blend in so perfectly with tree branches and ground that you could walk right past one without seeing it. The bird stays absolutely still, relying on its camouflage instead of flying away.

Epic globe-trotter. These birds breed across Europe and Asia during summer, then fly all the way to sub-Saharan Africa to spend the winter. They make this incredible journey every single year, following the insects they eat.

Secret white signals. Male European nightjars have hidden white patches on their wings and tail that you only see when they fly at night. They flash these patches in the darkness, probably to attract females or communicate with other birds.

East to west change. Nightjars gradually get smaller and paler as you travel from west to east across their range, from Europe all the way to Mongolia and China. This gradual change across geography is called a cline in biology.