Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii Hartlaub, 1857

58 gWeight

The square-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics.

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: South Africa, Uganda, Zambia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: South Africa, Uganda, Zambia

Square-tailed Nightjar has been recorded at 209 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 18 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Lake Mburo NPUganda108 records
  2. Kruger NP – Punda Maria CampSouth Africa91 records
  3. Speke Bay LodgeTanzania90 records
More places
  1. South Luangwa NPZambia75 records
  2. Liwonde National Park – MvuuMalawi68 records
  3. Kruger NP – Letaba CampSouth Africa63 records
  4. Rwakobo Rock LodgeUganda59 records
  5. Hakusembe LodgeNamibia58 records
  6. Queen Elizabeth II NPUganda56 records
  7. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa49 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaUgandaZambiaTanzaniaNamibiaMozambiqueMalawiBotswana

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 square-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics. It has an extensive range south of the African equator. Despite not having a completely "square tail", its naming highlights a distinguishing field mark.

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

Questions

How big is the Square-tailed Nightjar?

The Square-tailed Nightjar weighs around 58 g.

Where does the Square-tailed Nightjar live?

Its breeding range: Africa: south-central, southeastern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

When is the best time to see the Square-tailed Nightjar?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September, October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Square-tailed Nightjar endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Square-tailed Nightjar as Least Concern.

What does the Square-tailed Nightjar eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Square-tailed Nightjar in?

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

At a glance

Weight
58 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
155 mm
Tail
109 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
19 mm

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

Range

Africa: south-central, southeastern

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
Square-tailed Nightjar

Download illustration

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

WebP · 1070 px

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

In other languages