The Satanic nightjar, also Heinrich's nightjar, satanic eared-nightjar, Sulawesi eared-nightjar, Satanic goatsucker or diabolical nightjar is a mid-sized, spotted, dark brown nightjar endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The species was discovered in 1931 by Gerd Heinrich, a German natural historian who collected a single female holotype from Mount Klabat on the Minahasa peninsula of Northern Sulawesi.
Region
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Typical Environment
Occurs in submontane and montane evergreen forests and adjacent secondary growth. It favors forest edges, clearings, old logging roads, and gaps where flying insects concentrate. By day it roosts on the ground or low perches under dense cover, depending on camouflage rather than flight to avoid detection. It can persist in partially degraded habitats if some canopy and understory structure remain.
Altitude Range
250–1700 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its ominous name, this secretive nightjar is harmless and feeds mainly on flying insects. The 'satanic' moniker likely refers to its small ear-like feather tufts and eerie, ventriloquial calls at dusk. Long overlooked after its 1931 discovery, it has since been documented at several Sulawesi montane sites. It typically roosts motionless on the forest floor, relying on superb camouflage.
Temperament
secretive and crepuscular
Flight Pattern
buoyant, moth-like flight with short rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs. Nests directly on the ground without a built nest, typically laying a single egg. Both parents rely on camouflage and stillness to avoid predators; males perform display flights at dusk.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives soft, eerie whistles and churring notes at dusk and night. The call can be ventriloquial, repeated in series, and carries through forest clearings.
Plumage
Mottled and barred dark brown with rufous and grey speckling, providing strong leaf-litter camouflage.
Diet
Feeds mainly on flying insects such as moths, beetles, termites, and other nocturnal arthropods. It hawks prey on the wing using a wide gape and sensitive bristles around the mouth. Individuals often forage along forest edges and tracks where insects concentrate, and may exploit insects attracted to artificial lights.
Preferred Environment
Hunts along forest margins, over clearings and streams, and above roads or trails within montane forest. Foraging typically occurs below the canopy and over open gaps where detection of prey is easier.
