Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis Scientific name definitions

30–32 cm; male 70–102 g, female 81–86 g, unsexed 60–119 g. Sexually dimorphic. Upperparts greyish brown streaked blackish brown; broad buff or tawny-buff nuchal collar; wing-coverts greyish brown boldly spotted buff; scapulars blackish brown, broadly bordered buff on outer webs; prominent white or buffish-white submoustachial stripe and white throat patch; underparts greyish brown, speckled greyish white barred brown, becoming buff barred brown on belly and flanks. Male has large white spot on three or four (1 Aragonés, J., Arias de Reyna, L. and Recuerda, P. (1999). Visual communication and sexual selection in a nocturnal bird species, Caprimulgus ruficollis, a balance between crysis and conspicuousness. Wilson Bull.. 111(3): 340–345. Close ) outermost primaries  (usually inner webs only) and broad white tips to two or three (1 Aragonés, J., Arias de Reyna, L. and Recuerda, P. (1999). Visual communication and sexual selection in a nocturnal bird species, Caprimulgus ruficollis, a balance between crysis and conspicuousness. Wilson Bull.. 111(3): 340–345. Close ) outermost tail feathers; female has smaller wing and tail spots; sexual differences exist in all primary and rectrix spot sizes, with wing spots of males becoming significantly larger with age (2 Forero, M.G., Tella, J.L. and García, L. (1995). Age related evolution of sexual dimorphism in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus rufficollis. Journal of Ornithology. 136(4): 447-451. Close ). Iris dark brown, bill horn-brown (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) or blackish brown, legs and feet grey-brown. Larger (by 15%) (4 Lansdown, P. (1999). Separation of European and Red-necked Nightjars. British Birds. 92(4): 194-196. Close ) and generally paler and warmer-toned (4 Lansdown, P. (1999). Separation of European and Red-necked Nightjars. British Birds. 92(4): 194-196. Close ) than C. europaeus, which shows distinct buffish line across wing-coverts and white primary patch closer to wingtip (latter is always less extensive than male of present species) (4 Lansdown, P. (1999). Separation of European and Red-necked Nightjars. British Birds. 92(4): 194-196. Close ); wings shorter than in C. europaeus (with dark trailing edge), thus tail looks longer, and head appears larger (4 Lansdown, P. (1999). Separation of European and Red-necked Nightjars. British Birds. 92(4): 194-196. Close ). C. ruficollis might be confused with variety of resident species in sub-Saharan African wintering areas, including C. climacurus (latter is smaller and lacks orange nuchal collar, among other features) (5 Ottosson, U., Bengtsson, D., Gustafsson, R., Hall, P., Hjort, C., Leventis, A.P., Neumann, R., Pettersson, J., Rhonnstad, P., Rumsey, S., Waldenstrom, J. and Velmala, W. (2002). New birds for Nigeria observed during the Lake Chad Bird Migration Project. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 9(1): 52–55. Close ), as well as C. tristigma, C. inornatus and C. longipennis (6 Portier, B. (2002). Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis, new to Burkina Faso. Bull. African Bird Club. 9(2): 139-140. Close ). Juvenile similar to adult but paler and greyer above (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), with much-reduced nuchal collar (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), duller and less dark streaking on upperparts (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and buffish wing and tail markings. Race desertorum is paler, more sandy-buff, often tinged rufous, with narrower streaking on crown and broader nuchal collar.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Winters mainly in W Africa.

---

SUBSPECIES

Caprimulgus ruficollis ruficollis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Spain, Portugal and N Morocco.

---

SUBSPECIES

Caprimulgus ruficollis desertorum Scientific name definitions

Distribution

NE Morocco, N Algeria (S to Great Atlas Mts) and N Tunisia.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Typically lowlands and hillsides, with scattered vegetation and bare ground, in pine woodland, coastal forest, eucalyptus or olive plantations, vineyards, open scrubland with cork oak (Quercus suber), prickly pear (Opuntia) or scattered trees, and dense thickets of broom, gorse (Ulex), bramble (Rubus fruticosus), tree heath (Erica arborea) or pistachio (Pistacea lentiscus). Also semi-deserts, in Tunisia cactus plantations and in Morocco a characteristic breeding bird of argan (Argania spinosa)-dominated woodland (7 Vernon, R., Thévenot, M., Bergier, P. and Rousseau, E. (2005). Argan woodland: an important bird habitat in Morocco. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 12(2): 134–146. Close ). Tends to avoid treeless country and sand dunes. In study in SW Spain, this species’ occurrence on roads varied seasonally with nature of road surface and ambient temperature: attracted towards warmth of paved roads during migration, when cool weather (temperature below 20°C) usually prevailed, or during low temperatures (below 14°C), paved roads providing significantly warmer substrate than nearby gravelled or sandy areas (8 Camacho, C. (2013). Behavioural thermoregulation in man-made habitats: surface choice and mortality risk in Red-necked Nightjars. Bird Study. 60(1): 124-130. . Close ). Recorded from sea-level to 1500 m, but breeds probably mainly below 1000 m (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Migratory. Nominate race leaves breeding grounds by late Oct or Nov. Regular ­autumn migrant through Gibraltar, along coast of Morocco and across NW Africa (e.g. W & C Mauritania Oct–Nov). Some occasionally winter in Morocco (e.g. Chichaoua Dec–Jan) but usually winters farther S in W Africa, though exact range unclear. Recorded N Senegal late Nov and Jan, and C & S Mali Oct–Mar, where common and widespread. In spring, return movements on broad front (Mar to early May) across Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco and W Algeria, returning to breeding grounds from late Apr to May. In Spain there appears to be a high natal philopatry, both males and females breeding close to where they hatched (9 Camacho, C. (2014). Early age at first breeding and high natal philopatry in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ibis. 156: 442–445. Close ). Race desertorum migratory and partially sedentary; movements and wintering range probably similar to nominate race. Recorded N Senegal late Nov, E Gambia Nov and Mali, Ivory Coast and N Ghana (Gambaga) Feb–Mar (10 Salewski, V. (1997). Notes on some bird species from Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast. Malimbus 19(2):61–67. Close ). Winter records (race unknown) also from Liberia in Dec, Ivory Coast in Nov and Jan, Burkina Faso Mar (6 Portier, B. (2002). Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis, new to Burkina Faso. Bull. African Bird Club. 9(2): 139-140. Close ) and N Nigeria Nov, Mar and May (5 Ottosson, U., Bengtsson, D., Gustafsson, R., Hall, P., Hjort, C., Leventis, A.P., Neumann, R., Pettersson, J., Rhonnstad, P., Rumsey, S., Waldenstrom, J. and Velmala, W. (2002). New birds for Nigeria observed during the Lake Chad Bird Migration Project. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 9(1): 52–55. Close ). Vagrants (nominate race unless stated) recorded in Britain (Oct 1856) (11 Cleere, N. (2001). The identity of the British record of Red-necked Nightjar. British Birds. 94(8): 393. Close ), Denmark, Ibiza, Sicily (race desertorum) (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), Malta (race desertorum) (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), Libya (sometimes considered doubtful) (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and Madeira, and possibly Yugoslavia and Canary Is; single record from France during present century, a bird found dead at Bouches-du-Rhône in Jun 1997.

Diet includes both flying and flightless insects, including moths, moth larvae, locusts and locust nymphs, mosquitoes, flies, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. Also ingests items such as small seeds, earth and grains of sand, possibly by accident, or to aid digestion (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Forages in open habitats, sometimes high up and usually alone. Occasionally forages on ground, e.g. taking insects around animal droppings (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Recorded in SE Spain taking insects attracted by street lamps along the coast, often perching in the top of the lamps or in nearby television aerials (12 Gragera, F. (2015). Tácticas de caza del chotacabras cuellirrojo en la costa malagueña. Quercus. 355: 33–35. In Spanish. Close ). Apparently stores food in an extended pharyngeal cavity while foraging.

Song of male (given mainly, almost exclusively, in breeding season, and usually starting c. 30 minutes after sunset) (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) is a repetitive series of loud, low-pitched and usually slowly delivered (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) “cut-ok” notes for up to two minutes (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), often preceded by rapid “quot” calls, chuckles or gurgles; sings from perches throughout night. Song occasionally heard in sub-Saharan Africa and regularly given in N Nigeria around L Chad (5 Ottosson, U., Bengtsson, D., Gustafsson, R., Hall, P., Hjort, C., Leventis, A.P., Neumann, R., Pettersson, J., Rhonnstad, P., Rumsey, S., Waldenstrom, J. and Velmala, W. (2002). New birds for Nigeria observed during the Lake Chad Bird Migration Project. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 9(1): 52–55. Close ). Flight call (not unlike that of C. europaeus) (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) is a single or double-noted “cutow”, given comparatively infrequently (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); incubating adult may give accelerating, knocking notes, “tuk-tuk-”, likened to the chuffing of a steam train and reported to have metronome quality (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); also given by female in other contexts (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). All birds make guttural hissing sounds during threat/defence displays, and give sharp, high-pitched notes in alarm (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Mechanical wing-clapping sounds sometimes given in flight, sometimes in conjunction with song, either in threat or display to female (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Breeds early May to late Aug in Spain and Portugal, and mid-May to Aug in C Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Possibly double-brooded. Probably monogamous; territorial; usually solitary, but in Tunisia nests sometimes in loose groups 2–20 m apart and in S Spain similar association observed in one area where nests spaced at mean distance c. 60 m (usually c. 235 m in this region) (13 Aragonés, J., Recuerda, P. and Arias de Reyna, L. (2001). Loose nesting aggregation in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ardeola. 48(1): 11-18. Close ), and brood amalgamation was seen in two nests spaced 37 m apart (14 Aragonés, J., Árias de Reyna, L. and Recuerda, P. (2000). Brood amalgamation in Red-necked Nightjars Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ardeola. 47(2): 251-253. Close ); at least in Spain, nesting success does not appear to differ between semi-colonial and lone breeders, but there is high synchronicity in hatching across aggregated nests, with the sole factor driving the former behaviour seemingly habitat, i.e. more structurally dense woodland (13 Aragonés, J., Recuerda, P. and Arias de Reyna, L. (2001). Loose nesting aggregation in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ardeola. 48(1): 11-18. Close ). Nest-site in open, beneath or among low bushes, beside fallen log or branch or under tree, in Tunisia also in cactus plantation, in S Portugal also among coastal driftwood on sandbank; no nest, eggs laid on ground, usually on leaf litter or pine needles. May reuse same nest site in subsequent seasons, up to five consecutive years recorded, and such nests often the most successful (15 Aragonés, J. (2003). Breeding biology of the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Ardeola. 50(2): 215-221. Close ). Clutch usually 1–2 eggs (mean 1·24 in one Spanish study) (16 Cuadrado, M. and Domínguez, F. (1996). Phenology and breeding success of Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Journal of Ornithology. 137(2): 249-253. Close ), elliptical, glossy white or creamy-white, marbled and blotched grey and brown, size 28·5–34 mm × 21·3–24·5 mm, c. 8 g (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); incubation usually by female, at least during day, period generally 14–19 days, with limited evidence of eggs being moved during incubation (17 Jackson, H. D. (2007). A review of the evidence for the translocation of eggs and young by nightjars (Caprimulgidae). Ostrich 78(3):561–572. Close ), and eggs hatching asynchronously; chick semi-precocial, covered in brownish-buff down; female threatened at nest-site may perform injury-feigning distraction display; chicks make first flights at c. 16–18 days, but may start to move away from nest-site after four days (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and become independent after 4–5 weeks; male may remain with young while female commences second brood (3 Holyoak, D. T. (2001). Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Earlier nests (May) apparently more successful than later ones (Jun/Jul), with overall success at 34 nests as follows: 17 nests fledged two chicks, 12 nests fledged one chick and eight nests none, thus of 71 eggs laid, 47 (66·2%) hatched and 46 produced a fledgling (16 Cuadrado, M. and Domínguez, F. (1996). Phenology and breeding success of Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Journal of Ornithology. 137(2): 249-253. Close ); in another Spanish, two-year study, hatching success was c. 89–95%, fledging success c. 83–100% and overall breeding success c. 79–89% (15 Aragonés, J. (2003). Breeding biology of the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Ardeola. 50(2): 215-221. Close ). Two-egg clutches tend to be more successful (15 Aragonés, J. (2003). Breeding biology of the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Ardeola. 50(2): 215-221. Close ). Mean adult survival in S Spain calculated at 0·74 for males and 0·64 for females (18 Forero, M.G., Tella, J.L. and Oro, D. (2001). Annual survival rates of adult Red-necked Nightjars Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ibis. 143(2): 273-277. Close ). Most individuals start to reproduce in their first year of life (9 Camacho, C. (2014). Early age at first breeding and high natal philopatry in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis. Ibis. 156: 442–445. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Reasonably common in Spain with 100,000–131,000 breeding pairs, range and population levels apparently not declining; locally common in Portugal with 1000–10,000 pairs, but declining in Algarve region due to habitat loss and disturbance from tourist industry; has also bred in S France, but only single (non-breeding) record from 20th century. Sparsely distributed in Morocco, where apparently declining; sparsely distributed but locally fairly common in Tunisia; possibly not widely distributed in Algeria. Loss of habitat to urbanization or agriculture probably biggest threat; nests in cultivated areas often at risk from agricultural activities; predation poorly documented, but in S Spain eggs and chicks may be taken by lizards (Lacerta lepida), snakes and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (15 Aragonés, J. (2003). Breeding biology of the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain. Ardeola. 50(2): 215-221. Close ). On wintering grounds, uncommon in Morocco (Chichaoua region); probably not common in coastal areas of W Mauritania; uncommon in N Senegal; nine road casualties ­recorded in Gambia since 1990, suggesting species previously overlooked there; widely distributed and reasonably common in Mali; few records Ivory Coast and Ghana; probably under-recorded. Increasing road traffic in all regions, responsible for some mortality, although compared to some Afrotropical species roadkills are not especially significant (19 Jackson, H. D. (2002). A review of Afrotropical nightjar mortality, mainly road kills. Ostrich 73(3–4):147–161. Close ). However, recent Spanish study revealed, unsurprisingly, that nightjars more frequently perched on tarmac (rather than gravel) roads during migration or periods of otherwise cooler weather, at which time they were at substantially greater risk of mortality (8 Camacho, C. (2013). Behavioural thermoregulation in man-made habitats: surface choice and mortality risk in Red-necked Nightjars. Bird Study. 60(1): 124-130. . Close ).