Nightjars - Engoulevents

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They  occur almost worldwide in temperate to tropical regions. They have protective colouring of gray, brown, or reddish brown.  The colour of their plumage and their unusual perching habits help conceal them during the day. They feed on flying insects that they catch on the wing at night. They can be found in a variety of habitats, most commonly the open country with some vegetation. They usually nest on the ground, with a habit of resting and roosting on roads. Nightjars can be identified by their calls which are different from one another. These calls usually start just before darkness and carry on into the night. 

In Ontario, there are five species in the nightjar family. These include: Eastern whip-poor-will, Common Poorwill, Chuck-will's-widow, Common Nighthawk and Lesser Nighthawk.

Did you know ???

They are sometimes referred to as goatsuckers, as they were often seen in fields together with goats and sheep, and the myth was born that they were there to suck milk from the teats of goats . However, instead they fed on the insects that were attracted to livestock. In the past, night-flying birds – such as the nightjars – were suspected of witchery.