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Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Low |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 6,550,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 6,550,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Decreasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 5.6 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 470,000-1,000,000 breeding pairs, equating to 1,410,000-3,000,000 individuals (BirdLife International 2004). Europe forms 50-74% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 2,000,000-6,000,000 individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. | ||||
| Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, pesticide use reducing the availability of food, and disturbance (del Hoyo et al. 1999). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Andorra | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bahrain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belarus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belgium | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Botswana | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Burundi | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Vagrant | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Djibouti | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ethiopia | Native | No | |||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| France | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Georgia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ghana | Vagrant | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Hungary | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iceland | Vagrant | No | |||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ireland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Israel | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | |||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lesotho | Native | No | |||
| Liberia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Libya | Native | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Malawi | Native | No | |||
| Mali | Vagrant | No | |||
| Malta | Native | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mongolia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Niger | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Oman | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Qatar | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Rwanda | Native | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Senegal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Seychelles | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sierra Leone | Vagrant | No | |||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sudan | Native | No | |||
| Swaziland | Native | No | |||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Tajikistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tanzania | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uganda | Native | No | |||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Arab Emirates | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Western Sahara | Native | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Zambia | Native | No | |||
| Zimbabwe | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Central Marchfeld |  |
| Austria | Lower Kamp valley | |
| Austria | Lower valley of the Gail | |
| Austria | North-eastern Leithagebirge | |
| Austria | Steinfeld | |
| Austria | Thermenlinie | |
| Austria | Villacher Alpe-Dobratsch | |
| Belgium | Gebieden gelegen te Peer en Hechtel-Eksel | |
| Belgium | Gebieden ten noorden van Turnhout en Ravels | |
| Belgium | Kalmthoutse Heide | |
| Belgium | Sinémurienne | |
| Belgium | Vallei van de Zwarte Beek | |
| Bulgaria | Byala Reka | |
| Bulgaria | Central Balkan | |
| Bulgaria | Dobrostan | |
| Bulgaria | Kamchiyska Mountain | |
| Bulgaria | Ludogorie | |
| Bulgaria | Provadiysko-Royaksko plateau | |
| Bulgaria | Rila | |
| Bulgaria | Western Balkan | |
| Bulgaria | Western Rhodopes | |
| Cyprus | Adelfoi forest | |
| Cyprus | Machairas Forest | |
| Cyprus | Pafos Forest | |
| Cyprus | Pentadaktylos Mountains | |
| Cyprus | Vouni Panagias - Agios Ioannis Cliffs | |
| Czech Republic | Ceskolipsko - Dokeské pískovce sandstones and wetlands | |
| Czech Republic | Doupov hills | |
| Czech Republic | Trebonsko (Trebon region) | |
| Estonia | Luitemaa | |
| Estonia | Nõva-Osmussaar | |
| Estonia | Põhja-Liivimaa | |
| Estonia | Soomaa | |
| Estonia | Taarikõnnu-Kaisma | |
| Finland | Nuuksio | |
| France | Arjuzanx | |
| France | Barois et Forêt de Clairvaux | |
| France | Basses Corbières | |
| France | Brenne centrale | |
| France | Brenne: Forêt de Lancosme | |
| France | Côte Médocaine: dunes boisées et dépressions humides | |
| France | Chaîne des Alpilles | |
| France | Estuaire de la Canche | |
| France | Estuaires picards : baies de Somme et d'Authie | |
| France | Etangs de Sologne: St Viatre, Marcilly-en-Gault et forêt de Bruadan | |
| France | Forêt d'Orléans: massifs d'Ingrannes et de Lorris | |
| France | Forêt de Haguenau | |
| France | Forêts du Perche | |
| France | Forêts picardes : massif des Trois Forêts et bois du Roi | |
| France | Gorges de la Dourbie et causses avoisinants | |
| France | Haut Val d'Allier | |
| France | Hautes Corbières | |
| France | Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais | |
| France | Le Pinail, Forêt de Moulière et bois du Défens | |
| France | Les Couzes Nord | |
| France | Marais et forêt d'Olonne | |
| France | Massif du Canigou-Carança | |
| France | Massif du Petit Lubéron | |
| France | Massifs de Fontainebleau et zones humides adjacentes | |
| France | Montagne de la Clape | |
| France | Montagne Sainte-Victoire | |
| France | Parc National de la Vanoise | |
| France | Parc National des Ecrins | |
| France | Plateau Ardennais | |
| France | Plateaux de Millevaches et de Gentioux | |
| France | Vallée de l'Aube, de la Superbe et Marigny | |
| France | Vallée de la Durance : de Tallard à Sisteron | |
| France | Vallée de la Loire : gorges de la Loire | |
| France | Vallée du Régino | |
| France | Vallées de la Scarpe et de l'Escaut | |
| Lithuania | Asveja Regional Park | |
| Lithuania | Dzukija National Park | |
| Lithuania | Initial area of Aukstaitija NP | |
| Lithuania | Labanoras Regional Park | |
| Lithuania | Simonys & Ramuldava forest complex | |
| Netherlands | Brabantse Wal | |
| Netherlands | De Hamert/Bergerbossen | |
| Netherlands | De Utrecht | |
| Netherlands | Leenderbos and Groote Heide | |
| Netherlands | Veluwe | |
| Poland | Augustów forest | |
| Poland | Biala Forest | |
| Poland | Bialowieza Forest | |
| Poland | Forest at Gwda River | |
| Poland | Janów forests | |
| Poland | Lower Silesia Forests | |
| Poland | Lukow Forests | |
| Poland | Notec Forest | |
| Poland | Omulew and Plodownica Rivers Valleys | |
| Poland | Pisz forest | |
| Poland | Sandomierz Forest | |
| Poland | Solska Forest | |
| Poland | Tuchola Forest | |
| Portugal | Tejo estuary | |
| Romania | Aliman - Adamclisi | |
| Romania | Almăjului Mountains - Locvei | |
| Romania | Cursul Mijlociu al Someşului | |
| Romania | Dealurile Târnavelor - Valea Nirajului | |
| Romania | Defileul Inferior al Mureşului | |
| Romania | Domogled - Cernei valley | |
| Romania | Fizes valley | |
| Romania | Măcin - Niculiţel | |
| Romania | Nerei gorge - Beuşniţa | |
| Romania | Podişul Hârtibaciului | |
| Russia (European) | Kilemarski Reserve | |
| Serbia | Deliblatska pescara | |
| Serbia | Prokletije | |
| Slovakia | Laborecka upland | |
| Slovenia | Banjšice plateau | |
| Slovenia | Karst | |
| Slovenia | Snežnik plateau and Pivka valley | |
| Slovenia | Vipavski rob | |
| Spain | Mountains of Barcelona | |
| Sweden | Hanveden-Hemfosa | |
| Sweden | Tarnan-Riala forest | |
| Ukraine | Kremenets'kyj forest | |
| Ukraine | Samars'kyj forest | |
| Ukraine | Velyka Osokorovka | |
| United Kingdom | Ashdown Forest | |
| United Kingdom | Breckland | |
| United Kingdom | Cannock Chase | |
| United Kingdom | Dorset Heaths and Forests | |
| United Kingdom | East Devon Heaths | |
| United Kingdom | Exmoor Coast and Heaths | |
| United Kingdom | Haldon Forest | |
| United Kingdom | Laughton Forest | |
| United Kingdom | Minsmere - Walberswick | |
| United Kingdom | New Forest | |
| United Kingdom | North Yorkshire Moors | |
| United Kingdom | Poole Harbour | |
| United Kingdom | Sherwood Forest | |
| United Kingdom | Suffolk Sandlings | |
| United Kingdom | Thames Basin Heaths | |
| United Kingdom | Thorne and Hatfield Moors | |
| United Kingdom | Wealden Heaths | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | non-breeding |
| Forest | Temperate | suitable | breeding |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | non-breeding |
| Grassland | Temperate | suitable | breeding |
| Shrubland | Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation | suitable | breeding |
| Shrubland | Temperate | suitable | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 2800 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Caprimulgus europaeus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) |
| Species name author | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Decreasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 6,550,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
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