Egyptian Nightjar

Caprimulgus aegyptius

Introduction

The first record (one shot near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in 1883) must be one of the few such events commemorated by a stone at the location.

The two rather disjunct breeding populations of this species are located in north-west Africa, and from Kazakhstan to Sinai. It is thought that both races winter in Africa, within the Sahel.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

80g

Seasonality

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Nottinghamshire, 1883

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This vagrant has not been recorded in the UK for many decades and as such cannot be mapped.

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Egyptian Nightjar movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Egyptian Nightjar, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Egyptian Nightjar

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Scientific name: Caprimulgus aegyptius
Authority: MHK Lichtenstein, 1823

BTO 5-letter code: EGYNI
Euring code number: 7810

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: enganyapastors d'Egipte
Czech: lelek svetlý
Danish: Ørkennatravn
Dutch: Egyptische Nachtzwaluw
Estonian: kõrbe-öösorr
Finnish: aavikkokehrääjä
French: Engoulevent du désert

German: Pharaonenziegenmelker
Hungarian: sivatagi lappantyú
Icelandic: Niðfari
Italian: Succiacapre isabellino
Latvian: Egiptes vakarlepis
Lithuanian: egiptinis lelys
Norwegian: Ørkennattravn

Polish: lelek egipski
Portuguese: noitibó-do-deserto
Slovak: lelek žltkavý
Slovenian: egipcanska podhujka
Spanish: Chotacabras egipcio
Swedish: ökennattskärra

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species