The Sulawesi nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs on Sulawesi and the Sula Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Region
Wallacea (Indonesia)
Typical Environment
Found on Sulawesi and the Sula Islands in lowland habitats. It frequents tropical moist lowland forests, mangrove forests, coastal scrub, and forest edges. The species often hunts along rivers, roads, and clearings where insects congregate. It roosts on the ground or low open patches with leaf litter, relying on camouflage.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This cryptic nightjar roosts on the ground by day and relies on mottled plumage to blend with leaf litter. It becomes active at dusk, when its soft trills and churring notes reveal its presence along forest edges and mangroves. Like other nightjars, it has a very wide gape to catch flying insects on the wing.
Temperament
nocturnal and secretive
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 on leaf litter with minimal or no nest structure, typically laying a single egg. Roosts motionless by day, relying on camouflage; becomes active around dusk and dawn.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, rolling churr interspersed with repeated tchik or chuck notes. Males vocalize from low perches or the ground at dusk and pre-dawn, sometimes delivering extended sequences.
Plumage
Cryptically mottled brown, grey, and rufous with fine barring and vermiculation; soft, loose-textured feathers give a shaggy outline when at rest.
Diet
Primarily aerial insects such as moths, beetles, termites, and flying ants. Catches prey on the wing using a wide gape and rictal bristles to help funnel insects. Often forages along edges and open corridors where insect density is high.
Preferred Environment
Hunts over forest edges, clearings, mangroves, riverbanks, and along roads or tracks. Will also sally from low perches over open patches or above canopy gaps.
