Editing Nightjar

{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{About|the family of birds|the aircraft|Gloster Nightjar|the cryptid sometimes called "goat sucker"|Chupacabra}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Great Eared-Nightjar, Tangkoko, Sulawesi (5799113025) (2).jpg
| image_caption = [[Great eared nightjar]]
| parent_authority = [[Robert Ridgway|Ridgway]], 1881
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Caprimulgidae
| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]], 1825
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision = * [[Chordeilinae]] (nighthawks)
* [[Caprimulginae]] (typical nightjars)
* [[Eurostopodinae]] (eared nightjars)
| range_map = Nightjar range.png
| range_map_caption = {{legend0|#007373|Global range of nightjars and allies|outline=gray}}
}}

'''Nightjars''' are medium-sized [[nocturnal]] or [[crepuscular]] [[bird]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Caprimulgidae''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|p|r|ᵻ|ˈ|m|ʌ|l|dʒ|ᵻ|d|iː}} and [[Order (biology)|order]] '''Caprimulgiformes''', characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called '''bugeaters''',<ref name="NebraskaBug"/> their primary source of food being insects. Some [[New World]] species are called '''[[nighthawk]]s'''. The English word ''nightjar'' originally referred to the [[European nightjar]].

Nightjars are found all around the world, with the exception of Antarctica, and certain island groups such as the Seychelles. 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.

The subfamilies of nightjars have similar characteristics, including small feet, of little use for walking, and long, pointed wings. Typical nightjars have [[rictal bristle]]s, longer bills, and softer plumage. The colour of their plumage and their unusual perching habits help conceal them during the day.

==Systematics==

=== Caprimulgiformes ===
Previously, all members of the orders [[Apodiformes]], [[Owlet-nightjar|Aegotheliformes]], [[Potoo|Nyctibiiformes]], [[Frogmouth|Podargiformes]], and [[Oilbird|Steatornithiformes]] were lumped alongside nightjars in the Caprimulgiformes. In 2021, the [[International Ornithologists' Union|International Ornithological Congress]] redefined the Caprimulgiformes as only applying to nightjars, with potoos, frogmouths, oilbirds, and owlet-nightjars all being reclassified into their own orders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taxonomic Updates – IOC World Bird List|url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/updates/taxonomy/|access-date=2021-07-29|language=en-US}}</ref> See [[Strisores]] for more info about the disputes over the taxonomy of Caprimulgiformes. A phylogenetic analysis found that the extinct family [[Archaeotrogonidae]], known from the [[Eocene]] and [[Oligocene]] of Europe, are the closest known relatives of nightjars.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Mayr|first=Gerald|date=2021-07-18|editor-last=Lautenschlager|editor-first=Stephan|title=An early Eocene fossil from the British London Clay elucidates the evolutionary history of the enigmatic Archaeotrogonidae (Aves, Strisores)|journal=Papers in Palaeontology|volume=7|issue=4|language=en|pages=2049–2064|doi=10.1002/spp2.1392|issn=2056-2799|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Caprimulgidae ===
Traditionally, nightjars have been divided into two subfamilies—the [[Caprimulginae]], or typical nightjars with 79 known species, and the [[Chordeilinae]], or [[nighthawk]]s of the New World, with 10 known species. The groups are similar in most respects, but the typical nightjars have rictal bristles, longer bills, and softer plumage.  The underside of the claw of the middle toe is comb-like with serrations.<ref>{{cite book |author=Austin, Oliver Luther |title=Birds of the world : a survey of the twenty-seven orders and one hundred and fifty-five families |publisher=Hamlyn |year=1962 |page=162}}</ref> Their soft plumage is [[Crypsis|cryptically coloured]] to resemble bark or leaves, and some species, unusual for birds, perch along a branch rather than across it, helping to conceal them during the day. The subfamilies of nightjars have similar characteristics, including small feet, of little use for walking, and long, pointed wings.

The [[common poorwill]], ''Phalaenoptilus nuttallii'', is unique as a bird that undergoes a form of hibernation, becoming torpid and with a much reduced body temperature for weeks or months, although other nightjars can enter a state of torpor for shorter periods.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Lane JE, Brigham RM, Swanson DL|year=2004|title=Daily torpor in free-ranging whip-poor-wills (''Caprimulgus vociferus'')|journal=[[Physiological and Biochemical Zoology]]|volume=77|issue=2|pages=297–304|doi=10.1086/380210|pmid=15095249|s2cid=32140353}}</ref>

In their pioneering [[DNA–DNA hybridisation]] work, [[Charles Sibley]] and [[Jon E. Ahlquist]] found that the genetic difference between the eared nightjars and the typical nightjars was, in fact, greater than that between the typical nightjars and the nighthawks of the New World. Accordingly, they placed the eared nightjars in a separate [[Family (biology)|family]], the [[Eurostopodidae]] (9 known species), but the family has not yet been widely adopted.

Subsequent work, both morphological and genetic, has provided support for the separation of the typical and the eared nightjars, and some authorities have adopted this Sibley–Ahlquist recommendation, and also the more far-reaching one to group all the [[owl]]s (traditionally Strigiformes) together in the Caprimulgiformes. The listing below retains a more orthodox arrangement, but recognises the eared nightjars as a separate group. For more detail and an alternative classification scheme, see [[Caprimulgiformes]] and [[Sibley–Ahlquist taxonomy]].

{{clade gallery |align=right |width=400px;
|caption1=Phylogeny of Caprimulgidae<ref name="Boyd">{{cite web| website=John Boyd's website |last=Boyd|first=John|year=2007|title=''Caprimulgidae: Nightjars, Nighthawks'' |url=http://jboyd.net/Taxo/Caprimulgidae.pdf |access-date= 30 December 2017}}</ref>
|cladogram1=
{{clade|style=font-size:100%;line-height:90%;
  |grouplabel1={{clade labels |label1=[[Eurostopodinae]] |top1=5% 
                               |label2=[[Caprimulginae]]<br/>(typical nightjars)  |top2=45%
                               |label3=[[Chordeilinae]]<br/>(nighthawks) |top3=91%
                               }}
|1={{Clade
  |1=''[[Eurostopodus]]'' |bar1=purple
  |2={{Clade
    |1=''[[Lyncornis]]''  |bar1=purple
    
    |2={{Clade
      |1=''[[Gactornis]]''|bar1=cyan 
      |2={{Clade  |bar1=cyan
        |1={{clade 
          |label1=Neotropical |sublabel1=nightjars
          |1={{Clade
            |1=''[[Nyctiprogne]]''
            |2={{Clade
              |1=''[[Lurocalis]]''
              |2={{Clade
                |1=''[[Hydropsalis]]''
                |2={{Clade
                  |1=''[[Nyctidromus]]''&nbsp;
                  |2=''[[Nyctipolus]]''
                   }}
                 }}
               }}
             }}
           }}
        |2={{Clade
          |label1=Poorwills |bar1=cyan
          |1={{Clade
            |1=''[[Siphonorhis]]''
            |2={{Clade
              |1=''[[Nyctiphrynus]]''
              |2={{Clade
                |1=''[[Phalaenoptilus]]''
                |2=''[[Antrostomus]]''
                 }}
               }}
             }}
          |2={{Clade  |bar1=cyan |bar2=red
            |2={{Clade 
              |1=''[[Podager]]''
              |2=''[[Chordeiles]]''
               }}
            |1={{Clade  
              |1=''[[Veles (bird)|Veles]]''
              |2=''[[Caprimulgus]]''
               }}
             }}
           }}
         }}
       }}
     }}
   }}
}}
}}
* †''[[Ventivorus]]'' <small>Mourer-Chauviré 1988</small>
* '''Subfamily [[Eurostopodinae]]'''<ref>{{cite web |website=[[IOC World Bird List]] | version=v8.1 |url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/IOC_8.1_vs_other_lists.xlsx |title=''Comparison of IOC 8.1 with other world lists'' | access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>
** Genus ''[[Eurostopodus]]'' (7 species)
** Genus ''[[Lyncornis]]'' (2 species)
* '''Subfamily [[Caprimulginae]]''' (typical nightjars)
** Genus ''[[Gactornis]]'' – collared nightjar
** Genus ''[[Nyctipolus]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Nyctidromus]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Hydropsalis]]'' (4 species)
** Genus ''[[Siphonorhis]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Nyctiphrynus]]'' (4 species)
** Genus ''[[Phalaenoptilus]]'' – common poorwill
** Genus ''[[Antrostomus]]'' (12 species)
** Genus ''[[Caprimulgus]]'' (40 species, including the [[European nightjar]])
** Genus ''[[Setopagis]]'' (4 species) 
** Genus ''[[Uropsalis]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Macropsalis]]'' – long-trained nightjar
** Genus ''[[Eleothreptus]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Systellura]]'' (2 species)
* '''Subfamily [[Chordeilinae]]''' (nighthawks)
** Genus ''[[Chordeiles]]'' (6 species; includes ''[[Podager]]'')
** Genus ''[[Nyctiprogne]]'' (2 species)
** Genus ''[[Lurocalis]]'' (2 species)

Also see a [[list of nightjars]], sortable by common and binomial names.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="165px">
Image:Lesser Nighthawk.jpg|[[Lesser nighthawk]]
Image:Mlongipennis.png|[[Standard-winged nightjar]]
Image:Nyctidromus albicollisDF28N04B1.jpg|[[Pauraque]]
File:Şivanxapînok.jpg|Nightjar
</gallery>

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Madagascar Nightjar - Tulear - Madagascar S4E8596 (15289655575).jpg|thumb|The [[Madagascar nightjar]] is restricted to the islands of Madagascar and the Seychelles.]]

Nightjars inhabit all continents other than Antarctica, as well as some island groups such as Madagascar, the Seychelles, New Caledonia and the islands of Caribbean.<ref name="hbw">{{cite journal |last1=Cleere|first1=N.|editor1-last=del Hoyo |editor1-first=Josep |editor2-last=Elliott |editor2-first=Andrew |editor3-last=Sargatal |editor3-first=Jordi |editor4-last=Christie |editor4-first=David A. |editor5-last=de Juana |editor5-first=Eduardo |year=2017 |title=Nightjars (''Caprimulgidae'') |journal=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive |url=http://www.hbw.com/family/nightjars-caprimulgidae|publisher=Lynx Edicions |location=Barcelona, Spain |doi=10.2173/bow.caprim2.01|s2cid=216484216|access-date=1 July 2017 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> They are not known to live in extremely arid desert regions. Nightjars can occupy all elevations from sea level to {{convert|4200|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and a number of species are [[Montane_ecosystems|montane]] specialists. Nightjars occupy a wide range of habitats, from deserts to rainforests but are most common in open country with some vegetation.<ref name="hbw"/>
The nighthawks are confined to the New World, and the eared nightjars to Asia and Australia.<ref name="hbw"/>

A number of species undertake [[bird migration|migrations]], although the secretive nature of the family may account for the incomplete understanding of their migratory habits. Species that live in the far north, such as the European nightjar or the common nighthawk, migrate southward with the onset of winter. Geolocators placed on European nightjars in southern England found they wintered in the south of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]].<ref name="Cresswell">{{cite journal|last1=Cresswell|first1=Brian|last2=Edwards|first2=Darren|title=Geolocators reveal wintering areas of European Nightjar (''Caprimulgus europaeus'')|journal=Bird Study|date=February 2013|volume=60|issue=1|pages=77–86|doi=10.1080/00063657.2012.748714 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1001746|doi-access=free}}</ref> Other species make shorter migrations.<ref name="hbw"/>

==Conservation and status==
Some species of nightjars are threatened with extinction. Road-kills of this species by cars are thought to be a major cause of mortality for many members of the family because of their habit of resting and roosting on roads.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jackson |first1=H.D. |last2=Slotow |first2=R.|title=A review of Afrotropical nightjar mortality, mainly road kills|journal=Ostrich|date=10 July 2015|volume=73|issue=3–4|pages=147–161|doi=10.1080/00306525.2002.11446745|s2cid=87154795}}</ref>

They also usually nest on the ground, laying one or two patterned eggs directly onto bare ground. Nightjars possibly move their eggs and chicks from the nesting site in the event of danger by carrying them in their mouths. This suggestion has been repeated many times in ornithology books, but surveys of nightjar research have found very little evidence to support this idea.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Jackson, H.D.|year=2007|title=A review of the evidence for the translocation of eggs and young by nightjars (Caprimulgidae)|journal=[[Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology]] |volume=78|issue=3|pages=561–572|doi=10.2989/OSTRICH.2007.78.3.2.313|s2cid=84823011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Jackson, H.D.|year=1985|title=Commentary and Observations on the Alleged Transportation of Eggs and Young by Caprimulgids|url=http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v097n03/p0381-p0385.pdf |journal=[[Wilson Bulletin]]|volume=97|issue=3|pages=381–385}}</ref>

Developing conservation strategies for some species presents a particular challenge in that scientists do not have enough data to determine whether or not a species is endangered due to the difficulty in locating, identifying, and/or categorizing their limited number (e.g. 10,000) known to exist, a good example being the [[Vaurie's nightjar]] in [[China]]'s south-western [[Xinjiang]] Province (as seen only once in-hand). Surveys in the 1970s and 1990s failed to find the species.,<ref>''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]]'', Volume 5, [[Birdlife International]]/[[Lynx Edicions]], 1999</ref> implying that the species has become extinct, endangered, or found only in a few small areas.

==In history and popular culture==
* [[Nighthawk (disambiguation)|Nighthawk]] as a name has been applied to numerous places, characters, and objects throughout history.
* [[Nebraska]]'s [[List of U.S. state nicknames|state nickname]] was once the "Bugeater State" and [[List of demonyms for U.S. states and territories|its people were sometimes called]] "bugeaters" (presumably named after the [[common nighthawk]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ne_intro.htm|title=The State of Nebraska - An Introduction to the Cornhuskers State from NETSTATE.COM|website=www.netstate.com|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref>Nancy Capace, Encyclopedia of Nebraska. Somerset Publishers, Inc., Jan 1, 1999, p2-3</ref><ref name="NebraskaBug">{{cite book |title=U. S. An Index to the United States of America: Historical, Geographical and Political. A Handbook of Reference Combining the "curious" in U. S. History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V5dPAAAAYAAJ |location=Boston, MA |publisher=D. Lothrop Company |page=77 |date=1890 }}</ref> The [[Nebraska Cornhuskers]] college athletic teams were also briefly known the Bugeaters, before adopting their current name, also adopted by the state as a whole. A [[Nebraska Bugeaters FC|semi-professional soccer team in Nebraska]] now uses the Bugeaters moniker.
* Nightjars feature prominently in the lyrics of the [[Elton John]]/[[Bernie Taupin]] song "[[Come Down in Time]]": "While a cluster of nightjars sang some songs out of tune".  [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], in an interview about this song and about Elton John, said, "It's a very beautiful song. ... I love Bernie's lyrics ... It is one of those songs you wish you had written...."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNEVfutuGbk Sting – Come Down In Time (New York – October 22 1991) – YouTube<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==

{{Commons category|Caprimulgidae}}
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/owlet-nightjars-aegothelidae Nightjar videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [https://xeno-canto.org/explore?query=caprimulgidae Nightjar sounds] on xeno-canto.org

{{Strisores|A.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q27244}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightjar}}
[[Category:Nightjars| ]]
[[Category:Caprimulgidae|*]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors]]