What is a nightjar?

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are most active at night. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, and deserts. Nightjars are typically nocturnal, but some species are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk.

Nightjars have long wings and tails, and they fly with a rapid, erratic flight. They have large eyes and ears, which help them to hunt for insects in the dark. Nightjars typically perch on a branch or on the ground, and they wait for prey to come by. When they see prey, they swoop down and catch it in their beaks.

Nightjars are not closely related to any other group of birds. They are thought to be most closely related to the owlet-nightjars, which are a small group of birds found in South America.

There are about 90 species of nightjars worldwide. They are found in all parts of the world except for Antarctica. Some of the most common species of nightjars include:

* Common nightjar (_Caprimulgus europaeus_): This species is found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is a small nightjar, with a wingspan of about 30 cm.

* American nightjar (_Caprimulgus vociferus_): This species is found in North America. It is a larger nightjar than the common nightjar, with a wingspan of about 40 cm.

* Rufous nightjar (_Caprimulgus ruficollis_): This species is found in South America. It is a medium-sized nightjar, with a wingspan of about 35 cm.

Nightjars are generally not threatened by human activity. However, some species are experiencing habitat loss and fragmentation, which could threaten their populations in the future.