Nightjar

The Nightjar is a nocturnal bird easily recognized by its silent flight and the characteristic trilling song it emits during the breeding season.

Similar in size to a blackbird, it has a unique body structure: a broad, flat head and a short but particularly wide beak surrounded by bristles (filoplume) that help it catch insects in flight. Its short, barely visible legs are adapted to life on the ground, while its grayish-brown plumage with streaks and spots provides excellent camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

The male can be distinguished from the female by white spots on the wings and tail, which are not present in the female. The long, thin wings give the nightjar a hawk-like appearance during flight. It lives in open, dry environments, such as heathlands, sparse forests, and farmland, where it hunts flying insects, particularly moths, because of its extraordinary night vision.

During the breeding season, the nightjar lays its eggs directly on the ground, without building a nest, in hidden and well camouflaged places. It is a migratory species that spends the winter in the sub-Saharan regions of Africa, then returns to Europe in the spring.

Despite its discrete nature, the nightjar is a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and insect declines, particularly from pesticide use. However, its wide distribution and ability to adapt to different environments allow it to be currently classified as a "least risk" species according to the IUCN.