nightjar

Everyday

A brown, speckled bird that hunts moths at dusk and at night and makes a long, whirring, churring song. It sleeps on the ground or along a branch in the day, hidden by its camouflage. tree →

In the lessons

Science and nature: a great example of camouflage — its feathers look like bark and dead leaves. Nightjars come to Britain and Europe in summer from Africa. In North America related birds are the whip-poor-will and nighthawk. In stories, its strange churring makes a summer night feel mysterious.

Examples

• We heard a nightjar churring on the heath. tree →
• A nightjar's feathers look just like dead leaves. tree →
• Nightjars catch moths in the dark. tree →
• The nightjar sat so still we nearly stepped on it. tree →
• In autumn the nightjars fly back to Africa. tree →
• The ranger took us on a walk to listen for nightjars. tree →

Note

Compound: night + jar (an old word for a harsh noise). Plural: nightjars. Old names: goatsucker (from a myth that it drank goats' milk — not true).