Golden nightjar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden nightjar |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family: | Caprimulgidae |
| Genus: | Caprimulgus |
| Species: |
C. eximius
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| Binomial name | |
| Caprimulgus eximius Temminck, 1826
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The golden nightjar (Caprimulgus eximius) is a special bird that belongs to the nightjar family. It lives in the Sahel region, which is a dry area in northern Sub-Saharan Africa. This bird is known for its beautiful golden color.
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What Does the Golden Nightjar Look Like?
The golden nightjar is a medium-sized bird, about 23–25 centimeters (9-10 inches) long. When it's resting, its head looks quite large. Its back and wing feathers are a warm, sandy-yellow color. They have gray-white spots with dark brown edges.
It has a big white patch on its throat. The upper part of its chest has similar markings to its back. But these markings fade towards its lower chest and belly, which are plain sandy-yellow. When it flies, you can see a large white spot near the tips of its wings. In dim light, the bird looks very pale. Both male and female golden nightjars look alike.
Its Voice
The golden nightjar's song is a low, rumbling sound called a "churr." It can last for a long time. The bird usually sings this song from the ground at dawn and dusk.
Where Do Golden Nightjars Live?
Golden nightjars are found from northern Senegal and Mauritania in the west. Their home range stretches eastwards all the way to Sudan.
In 2015, a female golden nightjar was seen in southern Western Sahara. Later, another bird (or maybe the same one) was found dead there. In 2016, more of these birds were seen in the same area. This suggested that a group of them might be living and raising their young there. In 2019, it was confirmed that they do breed in this area. These were the first times this bird was recorded in the Palearctic region, which includes Europe and parts of Asia and Africa.
What Kind of Places Do They Like?
Golden nightjars live in dry, open areas called steppes and semi-deserts. They also like rocky, gravelly, or stony ground that has clumps of plants. They avoid thick bushes or forests.
Life and Habits
Golden nightjars are active at dawn and dusk, and throughout the night. During the day, they rest on the ground. If an animal comes near, they usually shuffle away slowly instead of flying off quickly. They have been seen hunting for food over water at dusk. Their diet mainly consists of larger insects.
Reproduction
A female golden nightjar usually lays two eggs. She lays them on the ground, often near a clump of plants for protection. In the western parts of their range, eggs are laid in April or May. In Sudan, they lay eggs in March or April.
 | Anna J. Cooper |
 | Mary McLeod Bethune |
 | Lillie Mae Bradford |
