/
Small, widespread nightjar of drier inland areas, from woodlands to deserts.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Buugudaguda
At a glance
FamilyNightjars and Allies
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatTimbered edges, open forest, suburban gardens with mature trees, and lightly wooded scrub.
Best timeReported across most months in Western Australia, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Peter Boesman
Range map
Range map
2622visible hotspots
8867visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Fairly common in inland Australia. Primarily gray-brown with reddish-brown collar and extensive spots and barring. In flight, all-dark tail and prominent pale spots on outer wing visible. Most commonly seen when flushed from road at night.
Behavior
Song is an eerie wail that ascends in pitch and finishes in crescendo.
Gallery