Jerdon's Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis)
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Jerdon's Nightjar

Caprimulgus atripennis Jerdon, 1845

26 cmLength61 gWeight

Jerdon's nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) is a medium-sized nightjar species native to southern India and Sri Lanka.

Busiest months: February · Most records: India, Sri Lanka

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: February · Most records: India, Sri Lanka

Jerdon's Nightjar has been recorded at 73 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural HistoryIndia720 records
  2. Kerala Agricultural UniversityIndia614 records
  3. Kerala Agricultural University – Krishi Vignyan KendraIndia594 records
More places
  1. Rishi Valley – School CampusIndia534 records
  2. Thattekkad Bird SanctuaryIndia433 records
  3. Thrissur Government Medical CollegeIndia428 records
  4. ChemmattamvayalIndia275 records
  5. Uma MaheswaramIndia169 records
  6. Yala National ParkSri Lanka155 records
  7. Valley SchoolIndia129 records

Countries and regions with the most records

IndiaSri Lanka

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

Jerdon's nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis) is a medium-sized nightjar species native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Formerly considered as a subspecies of the long-tailed nightjar, it is best recognized by its distinctive call which sounds like a wooden plank being beaten periodically with each note ending in a quaver. The common name commemorates Thomas C.

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

Questions

How big is the Jerdon's Nightjar?

The Jerdon's Nightjar is about 26 cm long and weighs around 61 g.

Where does the Jerdon's Nightjar live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: southern, eastern India and Sri Lanka. It is most often recorded in India and Sri Lanka.

When is the best time to see the Jerdon's Nightjar?

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

Is the Jerdon's Nightjar endangered?

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

What does the Jerdon's Nightjar eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Jerdon's Nightjar in?

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

At a glance

Length
26 cm
Weight
61 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
184 mm
Tail
132 mm
Bill
20 mm
Tarsus
18 mm

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

Range

Oriental: southern, eastern India and Sri Lanka

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 eximiusLarge-tailed NightjarLarge-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus macrurus
Jerdon's Nightjar

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