Spotted nightjar

The spotted nightjar or spotted eared-nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It inhabits much of mainland Australia and has also been found in several Indonesian islands. Its natural habitats are open forests and woodlands, scrub, spinifex and tussock grassland, savannah woodland and mangroves.

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Distribution

Region

Australia and Lesser Sunda Islands

Typical Environment

Widespread across much of mainland Australia, especially in arid and semi-arid zones, and present on several Indonesian islands in the Lesser Sundas. It favors open forests and woodlands, spinifex and tussock grasslands, savannah woodland, and coastal mangrove edges. The species also uses stony gibber plains, sandy dunes, and scrubby country where ground cover is patchy. By day it roosts on bare ground or among leaf litter, relying on camouflage; by night it forages over open country and along tracks and clearings.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Arid

Characteristics

Size24–30 cm

Wing Span55–65 cm

Male Weight0.09 kg

Female Weight0.1 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The spotted nightjar is a cryptic, nocturnal insect-hunter that relies on intricate mottled plumage to vanish against leaf litter and stony ground. It often roosts and nests directly on bare ground, laying a single egg that blends perfectly with its surroundings. At night it may feed along roads and waterholes, sometimes taking advantage of insects attracted to artificial lights.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and nocturnal

Flight Pattern

buoyant, silent flight with short rapid wingbeats and glides

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, sometimes loosely aggregating at rich feeding sites. Nests are a single egg laid directly on bare ground without a constructed nest. Both parents share incubation and care, relying on stillness and camouflage to avoid detection. Roosts on the ground by day, often aligned with substrate patterns.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Voice is a soft, resonant series of repeated chuck or chop notes delivered at dusk and through the night. Calls can be steady and rhythmic, carrying far in open habitats, with quieter purrs or trills during close-range interactions.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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