Plain Nightjar
Caprimulgus inornatus
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="caprimulgus-inornatus"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/caprimulgus-inornatus/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/caprimulgus-inornatus/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/caprimulgus-inornatus/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="caprimulgus-inornatus"></birdfyi-bird>On this page
About
A small nightjar (21-23 cm) of arid and semi-arid zones across the Sahel belt of Africa, from Senegal to Somalia. Pale sandy plumage with minimal markings. Nocturnal insectivore, feeding on beetles and moths. Nomadic movements tied to seasonal rainfall patterns.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 30.6 cm | 12.0 in |
| Weight | 45.75 g | 1.61 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Uniformly plain sandy-grey upperparts with minimal patterning; faint pale supercilium; small whitish throat spot; underparts pale buff with fine barring; among the least boldly marked nightjars, blending into Sahel scrubland.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found from Ethiopia and Somalia south to Kenya and Tanzania. Resident in arid acacia scrub and dry open country. Closely related to Nubian Nightjar.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds nocturnally on moths and large beetles in erratic low-level hunting flights over tropical scrub.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: NO.
Clutch Size
2
Sound
Song
Monotonous churring trill; steady 'churrrrr' from African savanna; calls persistently at night; plain plumage matched by relatively unvaried, repetitive song
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) |
| Genus | Caprimulgus |
| Species | Caprimulgus inornatus |
Distribution
Plain Nightjar has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Plain Nightjar eat?
Where does the Plain Nightjar live?
Is the Plain Nightjar endangered?
How does the Plain Nightjar nest?
What does the Plain Nightjar sound like?
How big is the Plain Nightjar?
What order and family does the Plain Nightjar belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Caprimulgidae family