European Nightjar

The European nightjar, also called the common goatsucker, is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird 24.5–28 cm long with a wingspan of 52–59 cm. Its densely patterned grey and brown plumage makes it hard to see by day when it rests on the ground or perches motionless along a branch, and the male shows white patches on the wings and tail when he flies at night. The generic name refers to the old myth that it suckled goats (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic to Mongolia and north-west China, with its southern limits in north-west Africa, Iraq, Iran and the north-western Himalaya. All populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It builds no nest, laying two blotched eggs directly on the ground; they hatch after about 17–21 days and the chicks fledge after another 16–17. The male patrols his territory with wings held in a V and tail fanned, wing-clapping and calling. SoIB 2023 lists it as a passage migrant in India (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).