European nightjar

    Caprimulgus europaeus

Castilian: Chotacabras europeo

Catalan: Enganyapastors

Gallego: Avenoiteira cincenta

Euskera: Zata arrunta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Caprimulgiformes

Family: Caprimulgidae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

The degradation of its habitat and the use of pesticides, caused by agricultural intensification, are the factors responsible for this species' populational decline. But being run over by vehicles are also an important cause of mortality.

Length / size: 24-28 cm / 52-59 cm

Identification: Small or medium-sized bird whose mimetic plumage allows it to go unnoticed. This plumage is grey with white, black, and ochry spots, with a whitish band on its wing coverts and a dark area at the shoulders. Only males have white spots on their flight feathers and the sides of their throat. Flies silently with jerky hovering movements and glides with its wings in a V-shape.

Song: The males makes a constant clattering sound, similar to a revving engine, that can be heard from far away: "rroorrrrrroorrrooorrroo". Its mating call is a "kreet".

Diet: It feeds on nocturnal insects such as moths and beetles, which it captures in flight or by diving from its perch. Sometimes it eats on the ground, when grasshoppers and other invertebrates are abundant.

Reproduction: The breeding period coincides with the abundance of prey. The nest is located directly in a depression in the ground, protected by a bush. The female incubates the eggs, although the male can replace her for short periods of time. Both parents feed the chicks.

HABITAT

It occupies open areas with scattered trees, such as oak grasslands, ash groves, open pine groves, desolate highlands and steppes. It can breed above an altitude of 1,000 metres.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed throughout the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, except in the Ebro Valley and northeastern Castile-La Mancha. It is also found in the mountainous regions of the south, such as the Baetic and Penibaetic mountain ranges.

In Castile and León: It is present in all the provinces, but the largest populations are concentrated in Burgos, León, Soria, Zamora and Valladolid.

Movements and migrations: Migratory species whose European populations winter in tropical Africa. The postnuptial migration takes place between September and October, and they return to their breeding areas in April.

POPULATION

In Spain:

In Castile and León: