Bates's Nightjar (Caprimulgus batesi)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Bates's Nightjar

Caprimulgus batesi Sharpe, 1906

29–31 cmLength100 gWeight

Bates's nightjar (Caprimulgus batesi) or the forest nightjar, is a bird species of the family Caprimulgidae, native to the Congolian rainforests.

Most records: Gabon, Uganda, Central African Republic

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Bates's Nightjar has been recorded at 12 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 4 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. PN de la LopéGabon13 records
  2. Semuliki NPUganda12 records
  3. Ipassa Makokou Nature ReserveGabon8 records
More places
  1. Parc de la LekediGabon8 records
  2. Sangha LodgeCentral African Republic5 records
  3. Semuliki NP – Kirumya TrailUganda5 records
  4. PN de la Lopé – La Lopé LodgeGabon3 records
  5. PN Loango – AkakaGabon2 records
  6. Odzala NP – Lango CampCongo - Brazzaville1 record
  7. Odzala NP – Mboko CampCongo - Brazzaville1 record

Countries and regions with the most records

GabonUgandaCentral African RepublicCongo - Brazzaville

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

Bates's nightjar (Caprimulgus batesi) or the forest nightjar, is a bird species of the family Caprimulgidae, native to the Congolian rainforests.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Bates's Nightjar?

The Bates's Nightjar is about 29–31 cm long and weighs around 100 g.

Where does the Bates's Nightjar live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Cameroon to Uganda and eastern DR Congo. It is most often recorded in Gabon, Uganda and Central African Republic.

Is the Bates's Nightjar endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Bates's Nightjar as Least Concern.

What does the Bates's Nightjar eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Bates's Nightjar in?

It belongs to the family Nightjars (Caprimulgidae), order Caprimulgiformes.

At a glance

Length
29–31 cm
Weight
100 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
186 mm
Tail
144 mm
Bill
20 mm
Tarsus
18 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: Cameroon to Uganda and eastern DR Congo

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Nightjars Caprimulgidae
Genus
Caprimulgus

Other birds in the genus Caprimulgus

Red-necked NightjarRed-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisJungle NightjarJungle NightjarCaprimulgus indicusGrey NightjarGrey NightjarCaprimulgus jotakaPalau NightjarPalau NightjarCaprimulgus phalaenaEuropean NightjarEuropean NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSombre NightjarSombre NightjarCaprimulgus fraenatusRufous-cheeked NightjarRufous-cheeked NightjarCaprimulgus rufigenaEgyptian NightjarEgyptian NightjarCaprimulgus aegyptiusSykes's NightjarSykes's NightjarCaprimulgus mahrattensisNubian NightjarNubian NightjarCaprimulgus nubicusGolden NightjarGolden NightjarCaprimulgus eximiusJerdon's NightjarJerdon's NightjarCaprimulgus atripennis
Bates's Nightjar

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by ewankyle. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages