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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Caprimulgidae
  4. ›
  5. Eurostopodus
  6. ›
  7. White-throated Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
Photo · (c) Ged Tranter, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

White-throated Nightjar

Eurostopodus mystacalis(Temminck, 1826)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Breeding Endemic
Order
CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Family
Caprimulgidae
Genus
Eurostopodus

At a glance

The White-throated Nightjar is a medium-sized bird, about 30–35 cm long, listed as Least Concern. It can be seen year-round.

Size
30–35 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Breeding Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a White-throated Nightjar look like?

The White-throated Nightjar is a medium-sized bird, about 30–35 cm long and weighing 80–180 g.

The white-throated nightjar or white-throated eared-nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to eastern Australia; it is a non-breeding winter visitor in Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
30–35 cm
Weight
80–180 g
Wingspan
65 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a White-throated Nightjar?

The White-throated Nightjar is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Will Cornwell · Smiths Lake NSW 2428, Australia

Call

Hayley P · Bunya QLD 4055, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Wamban NSW 2537, Australia

Call

Jesse de Vries · Armstrong Creek, QLD, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a White-throated Nightjar eat?

The White-throated Nightjar feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the White-throated Nightjar live in Australia?

The White-throated Nightjar is found in Australia, recorded across 29 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth-east Cape York Pen., north-east QLD to south-central VIC (east Australia)

Non-breedingNew Guinea (except north-west)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

6 regions recorded