Overview
As daylight fades, the fiery-necked nightjar begins to call. Its rich, rhythmic song carries through woodland and scrub, creating one of the most atmospheric sounds of the African night.
By day, this secretive bird is almost impossible to spot. Its mottled brown, grey and black plumage blends perfectly with dry leaves, bark and bare ground, allowing it to rest motionless until darkness falls. Once active, it takes to the air to catch moths, beetles and other flying insects.
Despite its name, the fiery colouring is not spread across the whole neck. It comes from a warm rufous collar across the back of the neck, which is often difficult to see unless the bird is viewed closely. The species is much more likely to be detected by its distinctive call than by sight.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a medium-sized nightjar with a flat head, large dark eyes, long pointed wings and intricately patterned plumage. The fiery-necked nightjar has a warm chestnut or rufous collar around the back of the neck and pale markings on the throat.
Males have conspicuous white patches in the wings and white corners to the tail, especially visible in flight. Females have smaller, buff-coloured markings instead. These differences are more useful than size when separating the sexes.
The bird usually rests directly on the ground or lengthways along a branch, where its camouflage makes it extremely difficult to detect. At dusk, it may perch on quiet roads or tracks, launching into the air to catch insects attracted by vehicle lights or nearby lamps.
Interesting facts
Its camouflage is remarkably effective. A resting fiery-necked nightjar can resemble dry leaves or a patch of bark and may remain unnoticed until it suddenly flies.
It has a comb-like claw used for grooming. The middle toe carries a pectinated edge that helps the bird maintain its feathers; it is not used for catching prey.
Its song is easier to recognise than the bird itself. The repeated phrase is one of the most distinctive nightjar calls in eastern and southern Africa.