The European nightjar is a regular spring
and autumn migrant but do not expect to see it unless you look for it between
dusk at dawn when nightjars are usually active.
During the day nightjars rest
on the ground, usually in a shaded area underneath a bush, or along the branch
of a tree. It breeds throughout most of Europe and temperate Asia and spends
the winter months in Africa south of the Sahara .
The European nightjar is one of several
species of nightjar most of which are found in tropical areas. Nightjars feed
on moths and other night-flying insects which they locate visually. They have
large eyes which have a reflecting surface. This helps them to see in poor
light conditions. They also have a very large mouth which is surrounded by
large bristles which form a net around it.
Nightjars are very well camouflaged and
when resting they are very difficult to spot. They are very confident of their
camouflage and will not fly away unless they are approached very closely. When
it feels threatened it suddenly flies away. It flies close to the ground for a
few metres and lands in a suitable place to rest again.
In Maltese the nightjar is known as buqrajq.
Its scientific name Caprimulugus is derived from the Latin capra, "goat", and mulgere, "to milk",
which refers to an old belief that this bird suckled goats causing them to stop
producing milk or to become blind. This myth was already old in Aristotle’s
time. This ancient belief is reflected in other European names such as the
Italian succiacapri. It is probable
that the myth originated because nightjars were seen to fly around places where
animals were being kept as they were attracted to these places because of the
higher concentration of insects.
There are about eighty species of nightjars
worldwide. Most are found in warmer areas because usually have a larger number
of insects.
In Malta
This Article was published in The Times of Malta on 22 May 2014.
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