Introduction
The Red-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis, is a nocturnal member of the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae. It breeds mainly in the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb, then migrates to wintering areas in West Africa. Its cryptic plumage, ground-nesting habits and distinctive mechanical song make it easier to detect by sound than by sight. (birdlifedata.blob.core.windows.net)
Physical Description
The Red-necked Nightjar is a relatively large nightjar, measuring approximately 30–32 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 65–68 cm and a reported mass of roughly 75–140 g. Its plumage is predominantly greyish brown, buff and rufous, with dark mottling and streaking that provide effective camouflage against sandy soil, leaf litter and dry vegetation.
The most diagnostic feature is the warm reddish-brown collar on the hindneck, which is generally more prominent than the collar of the European Nightjar. Adults also show a pale, bilobed throat patch and conspicuous pale whisker markings. Males display larger and brighter white patches on the wings and tail, which are particularly visible during courtship and flight. Females have smaller, duller and more buff-toned markings. Juveniles resemble adults but are generally paler, less rufous and less strongly marked, with a smaller and less distinct throat patch. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Range and Habitat
The species has a restricted breeding distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and north-western Africa, including Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. In Spain and Portugal, it is mainly associated with the southern and eastern parts of the peninsula, while its European range reaches southern France in small numbers. It is an important long-distance migrant, with breeding birds moving to West Africa for the non-breeding season. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Red-necked Nightjars favour warm, open or semi-open habitats with patches of bare ground, low scrub and scattered trees. Suitable environments include Mediterranean shrubland, sandy heath, open pine woodland, dry grassland, grazed areas, plantations and some traditional agricultural landscapes. Breeding habitat normally combines open ground for nesting with nearby vegetation that provides daytime cover and access to flying insects.
Behaviour and Diet
The Red-necked Nightjar is mainly crepuscular and nocturnal, becoming active around dusk and before dawn. It usually roosts motionless on the ground during the day, where its mottled plumage makes it difficult to detect. When flushed, it may leave the ground with a sudden, erratic flight before settling again nearby.
Its flight is buoyant, agile and largely silent, with gliding, sweeping movements interspersed with deliberate wingbeats. The species catches much of its prey in the air, but it may also take insects from the ground. Recorded prey includes moths and their larvae, grasshoppers and locusts, flies, mosquitoes, beetles and other arthropods. (vertebradosibericos.org)
The breeding season generally extends from spring into summer, although its length varies geographically. In south-western Spain, laying has been recorded from May into August, and an extended breeding period of about 110 days has been documented at Doñana. Pairs do not build a nest. Instead, one or two eggs are laid directly on bare ground or among dry leaf litter. Clutches usually contain two eggs, although single-egg clutches also occur. Incubation lasts approximately 14–19 days, and young fledge at about 18–22 days after hatching. (vertebradosibericos.org)
The female normally incubates during the day, while the sexes share incubation at night. Both parents continue feeding the young for a period after fledging. Males advertise territories with a repetitive, dry, mechanical song and may use wing-clapping and conspicuous white wing and tail markings during courtship. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Identification Tips
Look for the following combination of features when identifying a Red-necked Nightjar:
- A large, long-winged nightjar with a length of about 30–32 cm.
- A noticeably warm rufous or reddish-brown collar on the hindneck.
- Grey-brown upperparts with dark mottling and finely marked underparts.
- A pale bilobed throat patch and pale whisker markings.
- Prominent white wing and tail patches in adult males, especially in flight.
- A buoyant, moth-like flight at dusk or during the night.
- A repetitive, dry, two-syllable song often rendered as “kiotoc-kiotoc”.
The most relevant comparison in Europe is the European Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus. The Red-necked Nightjar is generally larger and warmer-coloured, with a stronger rufous collar and different vocalisations. Care is needed because plumage can appear variable in poor light, and the species is often identified more reliably by its song, habitat and flight pattern than by a brief daytime view. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Conservation Status
The Red-necked Nightjar is currently assessed as Near Threatened at the global level. The European Red List also assesses it as Near Threatened, with a decreasing European population trend. The 2021 European assessment estimated approximately 202,000–270,000 mature individuals in Europe, although this figure refers to the assessment region and should not be treated as a precise global population estimate. (dasarxeio.com)
Important pressures include the loss and degradation of open Mediterranean habitats, changes in agricultural land management, disturbance and the reduction of flying insect prey. Pesticide use may reduce food availability, while agricultural machinery, vegetation clearance and pruning can destroy eggs or chicks because nests are placed directly on the ground. Climate change may also alter the timing of insect availability, breeding and migration, although the effects are likely to vary among regions. Recent research in south-eastern Spain found that nightjars breeding in intensively managed farmland expanded their foraging activity beyond the farm, illustrating the importance of maintaining connected, insect-rich habitat around breeding sites. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Useful conservation measures include protecting Mediterranean scrub, heathland and open woodland, retaining low-intensity agricultural mosaics, reducing pesticide use, avoiding vegetation clearance during the breeding season and improving monitoring of breeding populations and migration routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Red-necked Nightjar live?
It breeds mainly in the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb, including Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Small numbers also occur in parts of southern France. It migrates to West Africa for winter. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Is the Red-necked Nightjar nocturnal?
Yes. It is primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, with most activity taking place around dusk, during the night and before dawn. It usually rests on the ground during daylight hours.
What does the Red-necked Nightjar eat?
Its diet consists mainly of flying insects, including moths, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, grasshoppers and other arthropods. It can also take some prey directly from the ground. (vertebradosibericos.org)
Does the Red-necked Nightjar build a nest?
No. The female lays one or two eggs directly on bare ground or among dry leaf litter. The adults rely on camouflage rather than nest construction to conceal the clutch.
How can the Red-necked Nightjar be identified?
Listen for its repetitive, dry mechanical song and look for a large nightjar with a prominent reddish collar, pale throat patch and, in males, conspicuous white wing and tail patches. It is most likely to be encountered in warm, open habitats at dusk or after dark.
Is the Red-necked Nightjar threatened?
It is currently classified as Near Threatened globally and in Europe. Habitat degradation, reduced insect availability, agricultural operations and other changes to Mediterranean landscapes are among the main conservation concerns. (dasarxeio.com)
References
- BirdLife International. 2021. European Red List of Birds: Caprimulgus ruficollis (Red-necked Nightjar), supplementary material. BirdLife International and the European Commission. BirdLife species assessment PDF.
- BirdLife International. 2022. Species factsheet: Red-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis. BirdLife Data Zone. Accessed 8 September 2026. BirdLife species factsheet.
- Camacho, C. 2013. “Tropical phenology in temperate regions: extended breeding season in a long-distance migrant.” The Condor 115(4): 830–837. Oxford Academic article.
- Camacho, C. 2014. “Early age at first breeding and high natal philopatry in the Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis.” Ibis 156(2): 442–445. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12108.
- Cuadrado, M. and Domínguez, F. 1996. “Phenology and breeding success of Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis in southern Spain.” Journal of Ornithology 137(2): 249–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653639.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. and Rasmussen, P. (eds). 2026. IOC World Bird List, version 15.2. International Ornithologists’ Union. Accessed 8 September 2026. IOC World Bird List.
- Sáez, P. and Camacho, C. 2016. “Chotacabras cuellirrojo, Caprimulgus ruficollis.” In A. Salvador and M. B. Morales (eds), Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid. Accessed 8 September 2026. Species account.
- Zamora-Marín, J. M. et al. 2025. “Breeding performance of an aerial insectivorous bird under contrasting farming systems.” Ecological Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.70059.
- Bureau of the Convention on Migratory Species. 2024. State of the World’s Migratory Species. United Nations Environment Programme. Report PDF.
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