The European nightjar, common goatsucker, Eurasian nightjar or just nightjar, is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird in the nightjar family that breeds across most of Europe and the Palearctic to Mongolia and Northwestern China. The Latin generic name refers to the old myth that the nocturnal nightjar suckled goats, causing them to cease to give milk. The six subspecies differ clinally, the birds becoming smaller and paler towards the east of the range. All populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Their densely patterned grey and brown plumage makes individuals difficult to see in the daytime when they rest on the ground or perch motionless along a branch, although the male shows white patches in the wings and tail as he flies at night. Source: Wikipedia
Citation:
Linnaeus, C 1758
Reference:
Systema Naturae ed. 10
1 p.193
Protonym:
Caprimulgus europaeus
Type locality:
Europe, restricted type locality, Sweden, ex Fauna Suec.
Link:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10277#page/213/mode/1up
Avibase ID:
80D4B0FE7FF1D735
Avibase ID:
avibase-80D4B0FE
Short link:
https://avibase.ca/80D4B0FE
Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 555569
Geographic range:
Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022): European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023): European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Clements 1st edition: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2021: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2022: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2023: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2021: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2022: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2023: Eurasian Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds: Caprimulgus europaeus [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original): Caprimulgus europaeus [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition): Caprimulgus europaeus [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.02: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.03: European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.04 (7/07/2024): European Nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus) [version 1] |
Taxonomic status:
Species status: full species
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Other synonyms
See also the taxonomic synonyms table.
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