Brown Nightjar (Veles binotatus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Brown Nightjar

Veles binotatus (Bonaparte, 1850)

21–23 cmLength63 gWeight

The brown nightjar (Veles binotatus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Ghana, Gabon, Sierra Leone

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Brown Nightjar has been recorded at 24 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 5 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kakum National ParkGhana104 records
  2. Kakum NP – CanopyGhana79 records
  3. Kakum NP – Canopy Walkway & vicinityGhana67 records
More places
  1. Bobiri Butterfly SanctuaryGhana49 records
  2. Ebekawopa (Abrafo) Forest ReserveGhana17 records
  3. Parc de la LekediGabon12 records
  4. Bonkro VillageGhana11 records
  5. Ebekawopa (Abrafo) – 'farm scrub' habitatGhana11 records
  6. Tiwai Island Wildlife SanctuarySierra Leone10 records
  7. Nsuta ForestGhana9 records

Countries and regions with the most records

GhanaGabonSierra LeoneEquatorial GuineaCentral African Republic

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

The brown nightjar (Veles binotatus) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is the only species in the genus Veles. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, and Liberia.

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

Questions

How big is the Brown Nightjar?

The Brown Nightjar is about 21–23 cm long and weighs around 63 g.

Where does the Brown Nightjar live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Liberia to central DR Congo. It is most often recorded in Ghana, Gabon and Sierra Leone.

When is the best time to see the Brown Nightjar?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Brown Nightjar endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Brown Nightjar as Least Concern.

What does the Brown Nightjar eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Brown Nightjar in?

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

At a glance

Length
21–23 cm
Weight
63 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
149 mm
Tail
99 mm
Bill
14 mm
Tarsus
11 mm

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

Range

Africa: Liberia to central DR Congo

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Nightjars Caprimulgidae
Genus
Veles

More from the family Nightjars

Spotted NightjarSpotted NightjarEurostopodus argusWhite-throated NightjarWhite-throated NightjarEurostopodus mystacalisSolomons NightjarSolomons NightjarEurostopodus nigripennisNew Caledonian NightjarNew Caledonian NightjarEurostopodus exulSatanic NightjarSatanic NightjarEurostopodus diabolicusPapuan NightjarPapuan NightjarEurostopodus papuensisArchbold's NightjarArchbold's NightjarEurostopodus archboldiMalaysian Eared NightjarMalaysian Eared NightjarLyncornis temminckiiGreat Eared NightjarGreat Eared NightjarLyncornis macrotisCollared NightjarCollared NightjarGactornis enarratus
Brown Nightjar

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